by T. G. Ayer
Evie sighed and gave a smiled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to appear ungrateful. I'm a little scatterbrained at the moment." Evie gave a shrug. "As to your question, the answer is yes. I will accept your offer, and I will honor it. I won't try to leave either. Not until things are resolved. I'm worried about what’s been happening, and why, and I'm afraid of what it means that I am being targeted. I believe we all need answers and I can only get them by towing the line."
Mykia let out a breath of relief and reached for Evie's hands. Evie raised them higher and extended them, allowing Mykia to wrap her hands around the leather cuffs. The Master shut her eyes and her lips moved as she silently spoke the words to end the spell. Evie found herself nervous as for the briefest second she contemplated escape, if only temporarily in order to get in touch with Barry or Julian. But she didn't entertain the thought for more than a brief second. Then she closed her eyes and reveled in the cool air hitting her bare skin.
And then Evie stiffened with shock and pulled her hands away so fast that Mykia flinched. Evie tugged her sleeves down and waved a hand. "Sorry, reflex I guess. I didn't mean to startle you."
Mykia accepted the excuse and Evie sighed with relief though she did it in silence. The Marks of Hades were still on her skin and Mykia may have seen them. Had she spotted them Evie had no idea what the Master would have done. It was an unprecedented thing, Evie being Hades. What would Mykia had had to do then? Evie couldn't even guess at the new Grand Masters responsibilities or the intricacies of her oath to the Irin.
But Evie refocused on the food, with her hands free she was able to fill her plate with roasted lamb and gravy, garlic potatoes and honeyed peas as well as fresh bread. The food was standard fare for the warriors, nothing much different to what Evie and her warrior friends would enjoy at any meal. But Evie had been in Hades for a while and she'd not tasted food in the way she tasted here in the EarthWorld. In Hades everything had to be super flavored in order to taste it and truly enjoy it. A flaw in the makeup of the land of the dead, the dulling of taste.
But here Evie was able to enjoy her meal, though when she'd finally sat back, sated at last, she found she felt a little ill.
Mykia lifted a hand. "Don't think about it. Here drink this," she said, quickly pouring a goblet of what looked like cider and passing it to Evie. It turned out to be ginger beer, the most perfectly suited drink for her turbulent stomach. After a few sips Evie smiled sheepishly at Mykia. "I'm sorry. Not sure why I felt so ill."
"I hear traveling through Hades messes with a person's body. Something like jet lag."
Evie chuckled. "Nice comparison. And I have to agree. I'm not at all tired. A little disoriented with the time difference but that's not too unsettling."
Mykia quirked an eyebrow. "So how did you survive in Hades? I was always led to believe that an angel or an angelic being cannot survive in Hades."
Evie shrugged. "Maybe it was because I already had the coins for Charon?"
"Part of the set of the Seals of Hades, I presume?"
"Yep. And Charon...well, he was a strange fellow. Said something that made me wonder."
"What did he say?"
"He said, 'It is you,' as though he recognised me or something. Strangest thing."
Mykia's brow twisted again though this time her spine stiffened. "Odd thing to say, but who knows what that could mean. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. Now do you want to go over a few of the documents before our time is up? I have about an hour left before the Masters gather for another meeting."
Eveie nodded. "Of course." She reached for the file, aware now that Mykia's face was taut with some emotion. Evie read it as worry or even fear? Dismissing it as part of her own paranoia, Evie opened the filed and readd through the charges against her regarding Marcellus.
"So there are statements by his guards that claim Marcellus was more or less assassinated?"
"Yes, But I've put it on record that those would not be considered as impartial statements. There is a possibility of coercion, depending on who is now taking over Marcellus's role of pulling his strings, in the shadows, of course."
Evie flinched at the mention of the shadows, but she calmed herself and said, "Other than the guards, we have Castor who has refused to speak."
"There is one more statement."
Evie nodded, She'd spotted the affidavit by her two best friends when she'd first opened it and she was terribly afraid of what they'd said. Now, as she scanned the recorded statement, she felt the deepest urge to cry.
“May I take these with me to my cell? To go over them in my own time?"
Mykia shook her head.
The affidavit before Evie struck her to the core. The two warriors who had been her closest friends, had told a strange tale to the Masters. One which though hadn't been entirely true to what had really happened, had also managed to incriminate Evie in a way that a charge had been laid.
But could they really have betrayed her?
Chapter 12
"The stories do match," Mykia said, her voice cutting through Evie's thoughts.
Evie blinked and looked up at her. "Yes. I see that they do. I'm glad they told you what happened." Evie took a slow breath hoping to slow her rapid heartbeat. "I can see how what they have said would have incriminated me."
Mykia tipped her head to the side. "I can see that two warriors have filled in various blanks in terms of the whereabouts and the activities of their friend. I can also see that they haven't made any overt attempt to incriminate you. All they did was make their statement, of course one which implied your guilt if one were to be looking for that implication. I didn't miss the fact that they took care to leave a certain amount of ambiguity in their recount."
Evie glanced up from scanning the affidavit and met the Master's eyes. She was saying quite clearly that Ash and Ling hadn't thrown Evie under the bus. But from what the affidavit contained, the two warriors had told the Masters almost everything though they'd left out Daniel's true identity as Evie's father, and that Evie had received the Marks. And they had also left out Castors involvement. Evie's blood stilled.
"Why is Castor's statement still in the file if he didnt know anything?"
Mykia's smile was sad. "Unfortunately, Castor did say he went to Hades to find you after Patrick's death. The fact that he followed you there is enough for him to be held on suspicion of collusion. Even if he is of a simpler intellect, he may have either covertly or overtly been included whatever happened that resulted in Marcellus' death. The Brotherhood as well as the SHC are determined to uncover the identity of the person who murdered Grand master Marcellus. That much is irrefutable."
Evie felt a sudden wave of ice crash into her. "And what about the murderer of the Grand Master Patrick?"
Mykia frowned and squinted at Evie. "I'm afraid I'm not aware of what you mean?"
"When I was in Marcells's office, he asked Daniel if the deed was done. The only deed done that night was Patrick's death. His passing was too convenient, and of course, Marcellus didn't deny the accusation when I questioned him in Hades."
Mykia sat forward. "Are you laying a posthumous charged against Grand Master Marcellus?" Mykia asked slowly, her eyes wider now, wary, a little suspicion flickering in their honey depths.
Evie swallowed. "I'm not sure if it would do much good. All I have is the word of a dead man."
Mykia pursed her lips. "There are of course ways to speak to Marcellus even after he has passed."
Sitting forward, Evie stared at Mykia. "Is that something you will do?"
Giving a short shake of her head, Mykia sat back. "Sadly, as part of the prosecution, the Brotherhood would not consider a questioning of the spirit of the murder victim as beneficial."
Evie took a breath. What Mykia meant is that even if she wanted to, her hands were tied as their new master. Her role would be to ensure the previous laws and agendas were upheld. And her loyalties could not be questioned, not while she was overseeing the whole case.
But what M
ykia was also saying was that nothing at all stopped Evie from requesting the communion with Marcellus as part of her own defense. Evie cleared her throat. She'd committed the contents of the affidavit written by her friends to memory and then sat back. "As part of my defense, what other rights do I have?"
"You have the right to counsel, of course. You also have the right to confront your accuser. As well as the right to question each person who has testified, either against you or in your defense. All of which would have to be done in the presence of a neutral party of course. The SHC would assign an overseer as soon as your counsel is confirmed."
Evie. "And who am I allowed to call upon to represent me? Are there any rules as to who can work on my behalf?"
"Not that I know of. We are not a formal entity that requires a registration of professional experience. Most people either represent themselves or look for someone to trust who can speak on their behalf, preferablye someone with investigative experience who can follow the necessary leads."
Evie took a breath. "Very well, then. I think I know who I'd like to request as my counsel. Does anyone have the right to make an objection against my choice?"
Mykia shook her head firmly, eyes dark and steely. Enough to know that Mykia would put her foot down if any such objection were to be made.
Relieved, Evie said, "Okay. I have someone in mind. Who do I speak to in order to have my counsel scome to meet with me?"
Mykia waved a hand. "You can tell me, of course. I'll ensure your counsel is summoned. Immediately, if that is within my power. Although you will have to make it formal by drawing up a letter of instatement bearing the name of your preferred counsel." Mykia pointed a finger at her desk where a quill sat beside a pot of black ink. "There is paper in the folder beside the ink. You are most welcome to write your request now. I will complete some of my own work in the meantime."
Mykia got to her feet and walked off, crossing the large room to the large table where almost twenty chairs were arranged. At one end was a stuffed armchair which sat sideways a little, and a stack of leather folders with one open and waiting for attention.
Mykia paid no further attention to Evie who walked over to the table, considering her position. She was physically closer to the door. She was unbound and able to fight the gargoyle guard. She was also powerful enough to fight off Mykia herself if the need arose. But she was all too aware of the sacrifice and trust the sacrifice and trust that the new master had placed in her.
And Evie had given her word. And now she had the opportunity to request counsel of her choice. She hadn't found it difficult to name the person because other than Patrick there were only two other people she would call on. One was in the underworld and Evie had no idea how to call him to her. So the other will have to do.
Hopefully he'd bring a strong dose of antihistamine with him when he arrived.
She took a seat at Mykia's desk, imagining the shock and horror on the faces of the other masters should they see a murder accused sitting in the seat of the Grand Master.
Mykia was definitely sticking her neck out for Evie and though instinct made her question Mykia's motives, Evie decided that for once she was going to trust someone. Even if it was a little bit of trust. For a short period of time.
Evie scrawled out a letter on the yellowed parchment, feeling the tingle of the ink as she wrote her request to Mykia, a request that would be sent to the Supreme High Council as well. At last she was done, and signed sggined her name in a bold scribbled. She held out the letter and looked over at Mykia whose head was bent over her work. Evie walked over to her waving the paper for the ink to dry.
Mykia looked up. "All done?" Evie smiled and handed her the letter. The master took the message, scanned it quickly and met Evie's gaze, surprise soloring the honey to almost gold. "Evie? Are you certain? This is unprecedented."
Evie shrugged. "The fact that an angel warrior has been accused of murdering a master of the Irin is also unprecedented."
"Good point. Guess we may as well add on a little more unusual to the mix. But I have to warn you, we may receive pushback."
"I thought you said I could have anyone I wanted?" Evie asked, her body stiffening now.
Mykia shook her head. "I know what I said. I just didn't expect you to choose a.... All I'm saying is it will likely take a little longer to push the request through than I'd envisioned. I'll make it happen. They cannot deny your request. There is simply no reason to do so."
Evie's eyebrow rose. "Whoever’s been working with Marcellus all this time have already found ways to circumvent the rules of the brotherhood. How can we be sure they won't stall and try to get rid of me in the meantime?"
Mykia's jaw tightened, as though the very thought was offensive. Little did she know that Evie's life had already been threatened. But though this was probably the best time to reveal the Shade's attack, Evie decided to wait a little longer. She'd known when the time was right to tell Mykia the truth and now wasn't the time.
Then the master got to her feet and nodded sharply. "Leave it with me. I will make it happen. And besides, the SHC already knows of this request so they're likely already assigning an overseer to the case."
Evie frowned. "How would they know?" Then her forehead smoothed as she remembered. "Ah, SHC ink."
Mykia smiled and tucked the letter into one of the folders on her desk. Then she walked over to Evie, arms held out. She took both of Evie's forearms in her grip and heldp her firmly. Evie was never more aware of her marks which writhed beneath Mykia's palm. But the master didn't appear to sense anything strange. She simply smiled at Evie. "You have to know that I want the truth at the end of the day. I am trusting you when you say there is something darker going on here, but you are going to have to work hard to exonerate yourself of the murder charges. It's possible you may be cleared of all charges but that would be in the hands of your counsel to find a loophole in the law." She tightened her grip for a moment "I wish you only the best of luck, Evie. And I will do whatever I can to help. Just let's keep this between us. Your counsel, of course, can be informed of my standpoint. But he is not to repeat that to anyone, even if it were to help with your case."
Evie nodded and stepped away from Mykia’s grasp, feeling as though a rock had taken up residence in her chest. She had to force herself to speak. "Thank you. I'm not sure how to pay you back, but I most definitely owe you now." With a sad smile, Evie lifted her hands and extended them both to Mykia.
The master was silent as she returned the Angel Bonds to Evie’s wrists and spoke the words to initiate the spell.
And though Evie returned to her cell, nervous, worried and heartbroken, she now had something that this morning she hadn’t believed she’d ever have.
Hope.
Chapter 13
Evie paced her cell, thinking over her discussion with the new Master of the Irin. Now that Evie knew that Mykia would locate Barry and instate him as counsel, she was a little less tense.
Still, she had other things to think about, foremost being the testimony given by her best friends. She ran through the statement from memory, wondering why the girls had evaded the real truth. They hadn’t revealed that they had also kept back seals from Marcellus, thus also breaking the rules, which Evie thought had been smart. No reason to put themselves into a situation they would not be able to get out of. Or worse, have themselves tried alongside Evie for conspiracy.
Evie also wondered why the girls hadn’t implicated Castor, despite the halfling confessing that he’d been to Hades to see her. Did they do it to keep him safe? She’d always worried that Ash had really meant those snarky comments regarding Castor. The apsara had a mouth on her, and could sometimes be cruel, but now there was a hope that Ash wasn’t as prejudiced as she’d sounded.
Evie tapped her fingers on the leather of her cuffs as she kept thinking. The shade had been expunged along with his magic and Evie had survived his attempt on her life. Why he’d been after her and who had summoned him were questions that she�
�d have to find answers for. Questions that would also have to wait until Barry showed up.
Mykia wasn’t at all what Evie had expected, and if Evie had noticed then so would everyone else who came into contact with the new Master of the Irin. Which meant Mykia had a tough road ahead of her. More especially until Marcellus’ followers were rooted out.
Frustration was slowly building within Evie though and she had to force herself to stop thinking of Gavriel and her sisters and the Control. She had to get out of this mess first before focusing on the little angels she had to find.
The dungeons had remained quiet for a while and then suddenly, with a crashing boom, the entrance doors clanged, sounds racing along on the stone around the cells. Soft whimpers echoed around Evie and her breath stilled. Those sobs struck Evie deeply, the familiarity of the keening near breaking her heart.
Castor.
Poor Castor. He’d been like a sibling to Evie almost all her life. Patrick, Evie’s guardian and father, had adopted the half-demon as an infant. Castor’s human mother had abandoned him at birth, horrified to see the pale-skinned infant whose body was covered in crimson swirls and lines, and whose blood-red pupils scared the daylights out of most people.
His appearance drew such a fear-filled reaction from the people he came in contact with that he chose to wear a heavy hooded cloak, hiding his face within the darkness of the cowl.
Castor’s talent as a Healer was in enough of a demand that despite his scary image, he never ran out of patients. And he found that skirting the shadows as much as possible helped him retain those patients far longer than if he treated them face-to-face.
Such a reality, a life as an object of unending discrimination and prejudice, wasn’t easy, and yet Castor never considered withdrawing his services, never once in anger did he think to leave and hide himself, to take his healing abilities elsewhere, to people who wouldn’t treat him like a leper.
And now, Evie had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying as the sounds of chains sang in tandem to Castor's soft cries. The shuffling steps of the halfling came closer, the chains clanging on the stone floor growing ever louder.
