by Serena Robar
“Miss Blanchard, how do you plead to the crime of being Undead without a license?” she continued.
I thought about that for a moment. Thomas had told me to say not guilty and then plead my case. It had sounded like the most logical course of action until I had found out he requested to be my executioner. For all I knew, he was sharpening his stake as I spoke. I thought of poor Jill Schneider and knew it was now or never. It was either all about me or all about my people. I took a deep breath and said, “Guilty as charged.”
There were gasps among the peanut gallery behind the Tribunal and the blond Prince actually dropped his pen in surprise. I stole a glance at Thomas, who looked forward without a hint of expression. Carl, on the other hand, seemed to take on a greenish hue. I hope he doesn’t hurl, I thought with a pitying look at the plush cream carpet.
“Excuse me?” the receptionist said uncertainly.
“I said guilty as charged.” I didn’t hear the rat-a-tat of her typing machine so I turned around and said, “Go ahead and type that. We can wait.” She looked from me to the Tribunal, fingers poised in the air, unsure what to do next.
I was surprised when Mr. Holloway spoke up. “Miss Blanchard, you realize by admitting your guilt that we have no choice but to relieve you of your Undead status, don’t you?”
I took a moment to look him over. He wasn’t wearing his trench coat for this interview but he still had on his gloves. The guy was just odd.
He continued, “Would you like to change your answer?”
I fidgeted a bit with my belt charm before taking another deep breath. “I will not change my answer, sir. I do not recognize the power of this court to uphold or carry out any ruling against me. Therefore I have nothing to fear. You are not a court of my peers.”
This caused a scandalized buzz of whispers that demanded gavel action.
“You dare suggest the Tribunal is not in control here?” Mr. Holloway demanded.
“No sir. You have the gavel, the big table and the cool chairs. You’re in charge. I just don’t see how I apply to your rules.”
The blond vampire looked intrigued. “Explain,” he said.
“My summons was very specific when calling me to vampire court. Since receiving it, I have been told repeatedly by the Tribunal Investigators that I am not a vampire but a half-blood, a condition neither acknowledged nor recognized by the vampire community. So, based on these facts, it is clear that this court does not have jurisdiction over my Undead status.”
If they wanted to play by the rules, then they needed to fix the rules. They didn’t want half-bloods in their community? Well then they needed to find a place for us. No more getting all medieval on our ass.
“Intriguing argument, Miss Blanchard. What makes you think your actions are above the Tribunal?”
“You misunderstand my statement, Mr. Holloway. I don’t believe I’m above the Tribunal, only that the Tribunal does not acknowledge my people, and therefore cannot possibly have dominion over us.”
“Miss Blanchard, you are a solitary figure in court today. You have no people.”
“Exactly, so this brings me to my next point. I am here to lodge a countersuit against the Tribunal. It seems your Investigators are criminally liable for attacking my people without filing for a Blood War. According to your own rules, ‘No Undead shall attempt retribution without first filing a Blood War Sanction.’ I have paperwork citing at least eight known instances of such actions.”
I pulled out my notes from the black Marvin the Martian briefcase at my feet. It was either this or my backpack and I thought the black briefcase was better than the backpack with key chains. At least I’d worn a stylish pantsuit for the occasion.
“This is outrageous!” the older Prince declared, his eyes bulging from his jowly head. I was concerned he would give himself a stroke but no one else seemed to come to his aid so I schooled my features to reflect polite interest.
“Sir, the vampire community has been sadly lacking in responsibility for its actions for quite some time now. I am merely the messenger calling these unscrupulous actions into question. Your community cannot control its rogues, who in turn create another race, which in turn is exterminated for being the byproduct of your ineptness.”
It could hardly be considered the best course of action to practically accuse the Tribunal of genocide, but my hope was to put them on the defensive. It wasn’t fair that they’d created this situation and it wasn’t fair that innocent people suffered for it either.
“Miss Blanchard, you expect this Tribunal to entertain your frivolous lawsuit and put aside the more serious matter of your unlicensed status?” said the oldest Prince.
“Not at all, sir. I expect this Tribunal to follow the laws they put forth over two hundred years ago to govern the vampire community. As soon as my people are acknowledged as part of that community, I will accept any ruling you dictate over my unlicensed status. But unless and until I am acknowledged I can’t and won’t be held to the same rules and standards as other vampires. It’s quite a pickle, isn’t it?” I concluded smugly.
The gavel was back in play, attempting to quiet the vampires in the room. I took close note of the expressions and attitudes of all bystanders to try and guess what they were thinking. The concensus seemed unanimous: they didn’t like me but I did have a point.
Mr. Holloway stood up and said, “Miss Blanchard, your conduct and countersuit is a matter that requires deliberation. Therefore, I shall call a recess and adjourn these proceedings until tomorrow evening when we will reconvene at midnight.”
“Thank you, sir,” I replied, gathering up my paperwork to turn in to the stenographer. If they thought I was kidding, they were in for a shock. My countersuit was even notarized, though I was sure the woman at the bank was skeptical of my story about a mock trial for a high school law class.
I knew it was only a temporary reprieve, but I couldn’t help feeling a little proud of myself. In the end I might get exterminated but half-bloods would be recognized within the vampire community and have laws protecting them. Hmmm, when I thought of it that way, I wasn’t beaming with pride. Sure, it was a noble deed and all, but I would still be dead.
Carl and Thomas escorted me out of the building and into their car.
“You guys don’t need to follow me around. I’m not going to run away or anything.”
“We are not escorting you to keep you from fleeing. We are protecting you in case any vampire who disagrees with your politics decides to take matters into their own hands,” Carl said.
That certainly took the spring out of my step.
Fifteen
“What happened to the plan? You know—the one where you didn’t cause a half-blood revolution and infuriate an ancient race of sinister Undead?” Thomas asked.
“It made sense at the time.” I glanced over my shoulder to see if we were being followed. He practically flung me into the backseat of the car and then joined me. Carl drove.
“Colby, I can’t even begin to tell you what you have done. Have you any idea the repercussions of your actions in the hearing today?” Thomas was working himself into a fine fit.
“Look, Thomas, if I had done things your way I might have been granted a license. I stress the word ‘might.’ And then what? Live as an outcast in the vampire community for an eternity? Doesn’t sound like an appealing way to spend the rest of time. By forcing them to acknowledge my predicament, I’m giving other half-bloods a chance, which they don’t currently have. Sure, it means less business for you, but I’m confident you can find something else to do with your time.”
Thomas was sputtering by the time I was finished. “You silly, vapid, frivolous child!! Is that all you think you are to me? A job to be carried out and then off to the next? Bah!” He grabbed my shoulders to shake me and then just as suddenly released them. I dropped back into the seat with my mouth hanging open. I was trying to tick him off but not to the degree that he completely lost his cool.
What was I su
pposed to think? He’d asked to be my executioner! That hardly reassured me that he wanted me to win. We traveled the rest of the way home in silence, with Carl driving and Thomas and I sitting as far away from each other as possible.
Both my parents and Great-Aunt Chloe rushed out the front door to greet us. I was practically pulled from the car by my father, who hugged me fiercely, as did my mother and aunt, my briefcase crushed between us.
“We will return for you tomorrow at eleven P.M.,” Thomas announced, and they sped away.
“What is Thomas talking about?” my mother asked, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
“I’m not done in court yet. They called a recess until tomorrow.”
“What does that mean?” Dad demanded.
“I don’t know, Dad. Can’t be too bad, right? If they really wanted to get rid of me then they would have done it already.” I offered this lame insight to make them feel better. I hated what this hearing was doing to my family. When I left earlier they didn’t know if it would be the last time they would ever see me. Now it was stretched out to another day.
“I’m gonna go talk to Piper,” I told them.
“It’s awfully late, dear,” my mother reminded me. I looked up at her bedroom window and saw the light still on.
“She’s still up,” I assured Mom as I hurried across our driveway into her side yard. I waited until my family went back inside before picking up a small stone to throw at the window. It hit the shutter with some force so I tossed the next one gently. That one didn’t even make it to the second floor.
Muttering to myself, I looked down for some more stones when the scent of a bakery outlet caught my attention.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded to the seemingly empty yard.
Chuck sauntered toward me from behind the twenty-two-foot speedboat Piper’s dad kept on the side lawn.
“Is that any way to greet your only family?”
“Where are my manners? What in the hell are you doing here?”
He kept coming closer until we stood a couple feet apart. I was thankful Piper hadn’t heard the pebbles. The last thing I needed was to worry about her safety with Chuck around.
“So, you’re still here.” He made this observation somewhat dryly.
“Not much gets past you,” I retorted snottily.
“Colby, Colby, Colby. It has come to this now? You are demanding that vampire society acknowledge the half-bloods? Why would you do that? It can’t happen, you know.”
To say I was surprised that he knew what I did at the hearing would be a shock to say the least. There hadn’t been many people there and I knew Carl and Thomas wouldn’t squeal. Did Chuck have someone on the inside? Was that how he evaded capture?
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the ‘Undead Enquirer ’.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Ah, Colby. That’s what I love about you. Our eternity together will never be dull.”
I shook my head at him. “There won’t be an eternity together, Chuck. I’m not going with you. I’m taking my chances with the Tribunal.”
His lips straightened into a cold, hard line. “Why are you fighting me on this? I offer you salvation but you’d rather run into the arms of certain death. Why? Why?”
I jumped at his hard voice and how quickly he could change demeanor. Something was just not right about ol’ Chuck; being ostracized could do that to a vampire.
“Because I can change things. I can make them better for all Undead like me.”
“They will never grant you vampire status. You will be executed and forgotten.”
He sounded so sure of himself, so cocky.
“What makes you so smart? You’re just a lowly rogue on the run. You’re living on borrowed time as it is.”
“I’m no lowly rogue! I am free to do what I want, when I want. They can’t catch me, ever.”
“What makes you so sure? I don’t want to live my life one step ahead of the Investigators!” I still had no intention of going anywhere with him, but I needed to know how he’d found out what had transpired at my hearing.
“Is that what keeps you from coming with me? Fear? My dear, sweet Colby, we can do what no one else can do.” He seemed to relax when he thought he was getting past my reservations.
“What’s that? Dodge stakes?”
“I will protect you, Colby.”
“How? Do you have powerful friends who will keep us safe? No one is going to risk his neck for a rogue,” I scoffed, scorning his assurance. Please, please get mad enough to get careless.
“Family looks out for each other, Colby. It’s like I told you the first time we met.” He reached a hand out to mine, his other hand in the shadows. My vampire senses were practically screaming in alarm.
I put my hand out, as though to clasp his and said, “The first time we met, you threw me in a ditch.” And I yanked him forward, kneeing him in the groin … again. I caught him off guard, to say the least. I took my briefcase and swung it at his face with all my might. It made contact but, due to its nylon exterior, did little damage.
He growled, still unable to stand upright, and lunged for me. His hand came out of the shadows holding a wicked-looking knife. A knife made entirely of wood. So much for family.
I dodged the stake, but it was very difficult: my heels kept sinking into the grass and moving like a cat was impossible. I kicked my shoes at his head, making contact once. He swore at me.
I ran around to the other side of the boat, looking for a weapon of any kind. The perfectly manicured lawn offered me little hope of finding stray building material. Damn the suburbs!
“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, looking under the boat for his feet so I could keep track of him. “What about all that talk of family?”
As we circled the boat I suddenly lost sight of Chuck’s shoes. Wildly, I looked around for him—then he dropped on me from above. He’d leapt over the boat! Stupid vampire superpowers!
I struggled to get back up but he planted a foot on my chest and I heard the crack of ribs breaking. I was sure it would have felt much worse if I were mortal, but it sure knocked the wind out of me.
All of a sudden, I knew the truth.
“You killed Jill.” I gasped as he applied more pressure. “They were going to grant her a license and you killed her!”
“Stupid council. She cried so pitifully on the stand, telling how her parents had disowned her for being Undead and she had nowhere else to go. Made me sick to hear how she pleaded and begged for her life, swearing her loyalty to the Tribunal Princes when she refused to come with me, her Creator. I ask you, why? Why not come with me?” He was asking me this question while holding me down with a boot and waving a stake in his hand.
“Maybe it’s your people skills?” I offered and he stomped down harder. Despite myself, I cried out in pain.
“All I wanted was to have my family whole again.” He looked so sad staring down at me that I almost felt sorry for him. I stress the word “almost” because he was going down now that I knew it was him and not Thomas who did in poor Jill Schneider.
Suddenly, the sound of gravel raining against the back fence caught Chuck off guard, and I used that moment to grip his foot and push up with all my might. I surprised him just enough that he stumbled backward, tripping over something lying on the ground, and fell hard.
I watched in horror as he went down and sort of stopped in midair, arms waving about wildly, staring at some strange object protruding from his chest. Winthrop had impaled himself on the white picket fence that divided my and Piper’s lawns. I rolled to my knees and saw Piper, in a black trench coat over her pajamas, still crouched on the grass where Chuck had tripped over her. Her eyes were closed tightly and she was in the fetal position.
“Piper.” I grunted, clutching my chest. “Are you okay?”
“Is he dead?” she asked, still clenching her eyes shut. Chuck was still thrashing around on the fence, unknowingly driving the post deeper into h
is body with his futile attempts to escape.
I pulled myself all the way up and moved closer to him. His eyes seemed wild and unfocused. I couldn’t bear to see all his flapping around like a fish on the shore, so I told Piper to help me get him off the post.
Piper shook her head and refused to get up so I attempted to remove Chuck myself. I tried grabbing his arm and shoulder to try to lift him off when he pulled me closer.
“Colby.” He gasped. “Take my ring, take it to the council.”
Piper approached us cautiously still shaking her head. She must have felt she’d done her part saving me and wasn’t about to let the crazy vampire off his pike, but she did manage to stand next to us. She shrieked when blood flooded out of Chuck’s mouth. I pulled the ring off his hand and tugged Piper away from him.
He sort of melted from the inside out until there was nothing left but dust. Dust and the clothes he’d worn.
Despite Piper’s protests, I looked through his pants for clues and found a set of keys, a wallet and a note written on Tribunal stationary that said, “Son, she must be eliminated tonight.”
I stared hard at the elegant, spidery handwriting for a long time. I recognized it.
“What did you find?” Piper whispered from a safe distance. Nothing was going to convince her to go near our dividing fence again, ever.
“I think I may have found a bargaining chip.” If I was right, then maybe I could help half-bloods and get a license.
I looked up at Piper who was leaning against the boat, paler than usual, if that was possible. She looked very young without any makeup on. I would remember that expression on her face for an eternity. She was frightened, horrified and a little proud, as though she had accomplished a great feat and was stronger because of it.
I hobbled toward her, still clutching my ribs.
“Let’s get you back inside,” I said, in a motherly tone.
She bristled instantly and took control, propping me up with her shoulder and arm. “Please, you can’t even walk and you’re gonna get me home? Do you think any of those broken ribs punctured a lung?”
