One Last Breath

by S. C. Stokes

  The court broke out into laughter.

  "With these entered into evidence, it is the opinion of the prosecution that Miss Chase has not only sought to muddy the waters and destroy evidence, but that she has acted as an accomplice after the fact to help Director Sanders escape justice. They are the grounds on which she is being tried. These other charges, many of which are serious crimes, carry considerable sentences in their own right. She is as guilty of each of those as Sanders is of murder. The fact that she appears to have been swayed by some bizarre Stockholm syndrome is no defense for these unconscionable acts. It is merely a mitigating circumstance that the council in their wisdom and mercy might consider at sentencing.”

  He strolled back to his suitcase and produced a stack of manila folders. He dropped them on the desk. “I enter as exhibits three through thirty-five, sworn testimonies of the agents she attacked, all of whom spent time in the Administorum as a result of Miss Chase's actions. As Exhibit thirty-six through forty-five, we have video surveillance footage of Miss Chase recklessly using her magic in public places, placing our world at risk of discovery and our community in danger of reprisal from the normal population of New York. If this is not enough, I would tender as Exhibit forty-six the repair bill for the damage done to the very structure in which we sit, a structure that if it wasn't for the tireless efforts of our emergency personnel may have been wholly destroyed by the fire she helped set.”

  Raising his hand, he railed on. “The damages are in the millions, the damage done in the archives has been irreparable. The prosecution is pushing for the maximum sentence for this unhinged and dangerous individual. For her crimes against the agency and damage caused to the council, we would have pushed for life imprisonment. Unfortunately, Miss Chase is too dangerous and unhinged an individual to contain and has proved herself adept and capable of causing destruction in almost any circumstance. As a result, and in consideration of the ongoing danger she poses to our community, we push that Miss Chase should be executed for her crimes."

  The prosecutor took his seat as the courtroom devolved into chatter.

  Kasey watched as Arthur's smile spread.

  The devious old cretin was actually enjoying this. Kasey clenched her fists and forced herself to draw in and exhale a deep breath. Her fists were so tight she felt the key cutting into the palm of her hand.

  Councilwoman Hoskins raised a hand to quiet the courtroom. "Miss Chase. The court will now hear your defense. Take all the time you need. We remind you of the gravity of your crimes and the extent of the punishment that the prosecution is seeking. With that in mind, the floor is yours."

  Kasey raised her handcuffs up so that they rested just beneath the table, an angle that would be impossible for any of the council members to see what she was up to. Deftly, she slid the key into the lock and turned it. The cuffs loosened.

  Looking up at the council, she said, "Your honors. Ladies and gentlemen of the Arcane Council and those witnessing today's events. Our prosecutor has been so good as to make the bulk of my case for me and so I have only a little more to add to it. It would seem that the entirety of his comments hinge not on my guilt or innocence but rather on Director Sanders, who has been wrongfully accused and maligned in this court here today. I wish he was able to be here to defend himself. But as he isn't, I will happily do so in his stead. Only two weeks ago, I was summoned before the council to give an accounting of my actions. I was frank and direct then, and have no other intention today. I made clear then that the true threat was not any of my actions but was in fact an imminent attack against New York City being orchestrated by a foreign and dangerous power bent on our destruction."

  "Not this again, Miss Chase.” Arthur declared loudly. "You'll not muddy the waters here today with your conspiracy theories and nonsense."

  Kasey ignored Arthur, instead addressing the other members of the council. "Men and women of the council, I believe I was given leave to defend myself. Given the seriousness of the accusations against me and the severity of the punishment been sought by the prosecution, I had expected to be able to at least finish my opening statements before being waylaid by the prosecution or the Chancellor. It doesn't say much for your impartiality if I can be attacked by the Chairman of this very body while offering my own defense."

  Councilwoman Hoskins nodded. "Very well, Miss Chase. You may continue. The Chancellor will hold further comments until you are finished, but I warn you, you're on a short leash. If we determine that you are merely stalling or wasting the court's time with this nonsense, we'll hold you in contempt and add those charges and punishment to your sentence.”

  Kasey nodded. "Noted, your honor. Given the charges laid against me, I'm willing to chance it. After all, what is a fate worse than death itself?"

  The court murmured and Kasey used the opportunity to click open her cuffs and slide the discarded shackles beneath her onto the chair. Free at last, she rubbed her chafing wrists.

  As the murmuring died down, Kasey stood. Careful to keep her hands together before her, concealed by the sleeves of her jacket as not to arouse any suspicion, she walked around the table and into the aisle.

  "As I was saying, the attack I warned of is now imminent. Events are proceeding quicker than we had hoped and while we are still struggling to identify the parties responsible, we are certain that their plan remains intact. It will deal catastrophic damage to New York City. Many of the events in recent weeks have been conducted toward this end. We believe that the death of Theodore Getz was yet another cog in their machinations."

  "How utterly ridiculous,” Arthur declared. “What possible evidence could you have that Theodore’s murder has anything to do with this supposed attack on the city?”

  “Chancellor, if you will give me a moment, I will tell you. That is my intention. In fact, it's why I'm here today."

  "You are here today to answer the serious charges that have been leveled against you," Arthur barked.

  Kasey smiled. "Of course… That, too."

  She paced before the council. “As I was saying, and as the Chancellor is very well aware, I am prescient. I've been afflicted with visions of the future ever since I was a child. Sometimes I see a single person, other times, it's an entire group of people. It can be a horrendous thing to know someone's fate.

  “For those of you less familiar with the gift, when I come into contact with people or places, I'm often granted a brief look into their life. Unfortunately, this often manifests with a heart-wrenching glimpse into one of the more terrifying experiences of their life. Often, it’s a strong emotional event, like a birth or a death. I've often wished to be free of this burden, but to no avail.

  “When I was twelve years old, my gift manifested and ever since I have been afflicted with the same vision of a city being laid waste. If you dig back into the records from my time at the academy, you will find evidence of them there. My gifts are well known and well documented. You will need to look under my birth name, though. You will find I changed it when I moved to New York City. My name is in fact Elizabeth Stonemoore. You will find that the Academy had me tested and discerned conclusively that my gifts were authentic and not the fevered imaginations of a child's mind."

  Hopkins interrupted, "We can certainly investigate your assertions, Miss Stonemoore, but I still fail to see what relevance any of this holds for today's proceedings."

  “If you will bear with me but a moment longer, Councilwoman, I shall make it painfully obvious.” Kasey took a deep breath. "When Director Sanders and I infiltrated the council headquarters and the ADI, it was not to destroy evidence as you have supposed. Though I will admit that we did enter the evidence locker, our principal purpose was to deduce the identity of the murderer of Theodore Getz. We sought to clear the director's name and find the killer’s true identity, so that we could bring him to justice. The director has and always will continue to pursue his mandate to defend the people of this great city. We broke into the morgue, so that I might bring myself into contac
t with Mr. Getz. My hope was that a vision would manifest and reveal to us Getz's true killer. We did, and it did. I stand here before you today to declare in no uncertain terms that Director Sanders was framed for a murder he did not commit."

  "Well, if that’s not the most convenient thing I’ve ever heard, Miss Chase,” Arthur interjected. “You saw a vision that exonerates your accomplice."

  "Chancellor, if you please," the balding councilman at the end of the lectern called. “Let her finish.”

  Chancellor Ainslie yielded reluctantly.

  Kasey continued. “I also bring you incontrovertible evidence that Sanders is innocent. It is not convenient or a coincidence at all that I'm here today. Didn't you think that it was a little odd that after weeks of staying a step ahead of you, I just wandered haplessly into your trap in Central Park? Please, rest assured, Arthur, I'm exactly where I intended to be.”

  Kasey smiled as the Chancellor shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She might have been lying through her teeth but that mattered little now. It was time.

  It’s all or nothing.

  The court dissolved into feverish murmuring. Kasey raised her hand for quiet.

  The gesture didn't go unnoticed.

  Ainslie's eyes locked onto her raised wrist. Before he could open his mouth, Kasey cut him off. “I would show the court that Theo's true killer is here in this very room today. It is no other than Chancellor Arthur Ainslie." Kasey swept her hand before her and chanted, “Datguddiad.”

  The power swept out from Kasey's outstretched hand like a wave even as the ADI agents leapt toward her.

  Arthur raised his hands and shouted, "This is outrageous."

  The wave of power rolled over the Council as Kasey was tackled to the floor. Kasey's spell struck the Chancellor, driving away his illusion. As the spell dissipated, it revealed a Japanese man in his late forties. His hair was tied up in a ceremonial topknot. A simple silk robe was fastened by an ornamental sash at his waist.

  It was Akihiro Igarashi, the Master of the Shinigami.

  The courtroom went silent. Kasey could barely see through the pile of agents atop her.

  She twisted to the side and shouted, “Or should I say, the Master of the Shinigami who killed Arthur Ainslie over a year ago so that he could infiltrate this council and perpetrate his plot against New York City. There's your killer, standing right before you."

  Stunned silence descended on the courtroom.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The courtroom was deathly still as the Master of the Shinigami stood revealed at the center of the Arcane Council.

  Kasey struggled against the weight of the ADI pressing down on her. “Don’t worry about me, you idiots. It’s him you need to arrest.”

  Kasey locked eyes with the Master of the Shinigami. His cold gray eyes bored into hers. Contempt welled up in their depths. His ruse had come to a premature end.

  He was murderous.

  Before the ADI could process what had happened, the Master of the Shinigami reached down to his waist and drew the blade that rested there. In one swift motion, he brought it up and through the neck of the councilman seated to his right.

  The councilman’s head rolled off his shoulders, as the Shinigami turned to his left and shouted, “Mahou no hari.”

  A beam of azure light bored through Councilwoman Hopkins. The gallery screamed.

  From her place on the floor, Kasey struggled to see the extent of the damage being done, but she knew every second mattered. The Master of the Shinigami was laying waste to the Arcane Council. Several members retaliated but it was like trying to stop a hurricane with a handkerchief.

  Kasey felt a weight being lifted off her back. Looking over her shoulder, she saw an agent being pulled away. Seconds later, another was unceremoniously ejected. The same bearded agent who had handed her the key earlier was now struggling to free her.

  Kasey rolled onto her back and shoved the last of the agents off her. Pointing at Akihiro she shouted, “Get with the program, it’s him you need to be concerned with.”

  The bearded agent reached down and extended his hand. Kasey took it and was yanked to her feet. She collided into his chest.

  “Tell me that’s you under there, Noah,” she murmured.

  “Sure is, Kasey. When I realized they had you, I had to improvise. I knew I’d not make it inside with another illusion. They were checking every visitor. So, I went old school.” Noah ripped off the prosthetic mask and cast it aside.

  Kasey stretched her cramped limbs. “It’s good to see you. Thanks for the key, by the way. He didn’t see that coming.”

  Sanders grinned. “No, he did not. But we still need to take him down before he escapes. He has bigger plans than killing us. He can’t be allowed to leave.”

  The spectators in the gallery were running for their lives. The one exception was a woman in her fifties who was clambering over the wooden balustrade. Kasey did a double take.

  It was her mother.

  Her mother’s eyes were fixed on the carnage taking place behind the Council’s bench. At its center, the Master of the Shinigami was a symphony of destruction.

  Her mother raised both hands and bellowed over the ruckus in the courtroom, “Llusgo Hud.”

  A scarlet lance of pure arcane energy sliced through the courtroom toward the Master of the Shinigami. The bench itself provided no protection as the lance ripped straight through the wood work, showering the room in splinters. The lance hurtled toward the Shinigami.

  Kasey’s heart leapt as the lance bore down on their enemy. The beam struck him in the torso but rather than cut through him, it simply washed over the Master as a blossom of emerald energy played over him.

  Kasey's hopes sank as the arcane energy dissipated harmlessly. The Shinigami appeared to have some sort of shield protecting him from harm.

  The Shinigami turned on the courtroom. He smiled menacingly as he took in Kasey, her mother, and Sanders standing side-by-side defiantly.

  "Director Sanders, nice of you to join us.” The Shinigami glowered.

  "I will be your end," Sanders replied.

  The Shinigami sheathed his weapon. Then his head snapped up and he waved both hands in the air before him. “Hi No Nami.”

  A torrent of fire leapt from his outstretched hands.

  Her mother wove a golden matrix of wards around the three of them.

  The fire was deflected harmlessly, but the wards didn't protect the courtroom. The flames caught on the plush carpet and wooden furnishings.

  Even as the fire rolled over them, a thunderbolt struck the center of the shield. The wards trembled under the onslaught but did not yield.

  With both hands, Kasey summoned a wave of crushing kinetic energy. Even though the Shinigami was shielded, Kasey simply sought to level the playing field. Her blast struck the council bench. Kasey blew the already battered bench apart, leaving only a splintered ruin where it had once been. The Shinigami might have been shielded but his enchantment couldn't protect him from gravity. As the bench was blown away beneath him, he collapsed to the floor, along with the remaining members of the council.

  She darted forward and clambered over the broken remains of the council bench, looking for her prey.

  The room was a mess. She waded through the battered wreckage, finding herself in the walking space behind the council’s elaborate bench. She could see where they entered the hall and then climbed a short series of stairs to reach the bench.

  As Kasey took in her surroundings, a flicker of motion caught her eye. She ducked instinctively as the shimmering silver blade cut through the air where her head had been only moments ago.

  The Shinigami snarled. The short sword lashed out again and again, but Kasey ducked and wove. The blade was far from the perfect weapon for the confined space. The wood work inhibited some of his motion, but the master of the Shinigami was relentless. Slash by slash, he harried Kasey through the space. Step-by-step, she danced back out of reach.

  As the Shinigami
closed, Kasey felt something at her back. It was the wall.

  She'd run out of space.

  The Shinigami smiled as he thrust home the blade. The blade drove through the air toward Kasey's stomach.

  Kasey sidestepped the blade at the last moment. Grabbing the Shinigami's wrist with both her hands, she took control of the weapon. The Shinigami might have been a wizard for longer than she'd been alive, but Kasey had spent more time in the ring than most people twice her age, and she was fighting for her life.

  She twisted his wrist and slammed his hand into the wall. The Shinigami's shield did nothing against the mundane assault. She slammed his hand into the wall again, and bones cracked. The blade fell to the floor, its point burying into the wooden boards.

  The Shinigami wrenched back his broken hand. She swung at him, and her blow thundered into his chest. She drew back her right fist, planning to lay him out cold.

  The Shinigami raised his good hand and chanted, "Bakufuu!"

  She was too close to dodge the attack. The blast of energy knocked her off her feet. She found herself hurtling back through the broken wood work into the courtroom. She hit the ground hard, the wind driven from her lungs. Ringing filled her head.

  She tried to breathe but her lungs burned. She felt like she'd been kicked by a horse and it ached all over.

  Digging deep, she willed herself on. With Akihiro in her sights, nothing was going to keep her down. Fighting the pain, she raised herself onto her hands and knees. Then, one leg at a time, she stood up. Her mother ran toward her, as Sanders stormed into the breach. Kasey struggled to keep on her feet.

  Her mother reached her. "Where does it hurt, Kasey?"

  Kasey winced. "Everywhere."

  Her mother placed a hand on Kasey's shoulder and whispered an incantation. As the arcane energy rolled over Kasey a surging warmth filled her being. At its embrace, her taut and aching muscles loosened as the weariness of her week washed from her.

  "How's that?” her mother asked.

  "Fantastic." Kasey replied, rolling her shoulders. “I feel better than I have in days."