by Cecy Robson
“Well, dude, I throw knives—”
“Knife thrower,” he said, ready to get this little meet-and-greet over and done with.
Shayna did throw knives. That was true. She could also transform pieces of wood into razor-sharp weapons and manipulate alloys. All she needed was metal somewhere on her body and a little focus. For her safety, though, “knife thrower” seemed less threatening.
“And you, Emme Wird?”
“Um. Ah. I can move things with my mind—”
“Gypsy,” the half-wit interpreted.
I supposed “telekinetic” was too big a word for this idiot. Then again, unlike typical telekinetics, Emme could do more than bend a few forks. I sighed. Tigress, fire-breather, knife thrower, and Gypsy. We sounded like the headliners for a freak show. All we needed was a bearded lady. That’s what happens when you’re the bizarre products of a backfired curse.
Misha glanced at us quickly before stepping forward once more. “I will present Mr. Hank Miller and Mr. Timothy Brown as witnesses—” Taran exhaled dramatically and twirled her hair like she was bored. Misha glared at her before finishing. “I do not doubt justice will be served.”
Judge Zhahara Nadim, who resembled more of an Egyptian queen than someone who should be stuffed into a powdered wig, surprised me by leering at Misha like she wanted his head for a lawn ornament. I didn’t know what he’d done to piss her off; yet knowing we weren’t the only ones hated brought me a strange sense of comfort. She narrowed her eyes at Misha, like all predators do before they strike, and called forward someone named “Destiny.” I didn’t know Destiny, but I knew she was no vampire the moment she strutted onto the dais.
I tried to remain impassive. However, I really wanted to run away screaming. Short of sporting a few tails and some extra digits, Destiny was the freakiest thing I’d ever seen. Not only did she lack the allure all vampires possessed, but her fashion sense bordered on disastrous. She wore black patterned tights, white strappy sandals, and a hideous black-and-white polka-dot turtleneck. I guessed she sought to draw attention from her lime green zebra-print miniskirt. And, my God, her makeup was abominable. Black kohl outlined her bright fuchsia lips, and mint green shadow ringed her eyes.
“This is a perfect example of why I don’t wear makeup,” I told Taran.
Taran stepped forward with her hands on her hips. “How the hell is she a witness? I didn’t see her at the club that night! And Lord knows she would’ve stuck out.”
Emme trembled beside me. “Taran, please don’t get us killed!”
I gave my youngest sister’s hand a squeeze. “Steady, Emme.”
Judge Malika called Misha’s two witnesses forward. “Mr. Miller and Mr. Brown, which of you gentlemen would like to go first?”
Both “gentlemen” took one gander at Destiny and scrambled away from her. It was never a good sign when something scared a vampire. Hank, the bigger of the two vamps, shoved Tim forward.
“You may begin,” Judge Malika commanded. “Just concentrate on what you saw that night. Destiny?”
The four judges swiftly donned protective ear wear, like construction workers used, just as a guard flipped a switch next to the flat-screen. At first I thought the judges toyed with us. Even with heightened senses, how could they hear the testimony through those ridiculous ear guards? Before I could protest, Destiny enthusiastically approached Tim and grabbed his head. Tim’s immediate bloodcurdling screams caused the rest of us to cover our ears. Every hair on my body stood at attention. What freaked me out was he wasn’t the one on trial.
Emme’s fair freckled skin blanched so severely, I feared she’d pass out. Shayna stood frozen with her jaw open while Taran and I exchanged “oh, shit” glances. I was about to start the “let’s get the hell out of here” ball rolling when images from Tim’s mind appeared on the screen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Complete with sound effects, we relived the night of David’s murder. Misha straightened when he saw David soar out of Taran’s window in flames, but otherwise he did not react. Nor did Misha blink when what remained of David burst into ashes on our lawn. Still, I sensed his fury. The image moved to a close-up of Hank’s shocked face and finished with the four of us scowling down at the blood and ash.
Destiny abruptly released the sobbing Tim, who collapsed on the floor. Mucus oozed from his nose and mouth. I didn’t even know vamps were capable of such body fluids.
At last, Taran finally seemed to understand the deep shittiness of our situation. “Son of a bitch,” she whispered.
Hank gawked at Tim before addressing the judges. “If it pleases the court, I swear on my honor I witnessed exactly what Tim Brown did about David Geller’s murder. My version would be of no further benefit.”
Malika shrugged indifferently. “Very well, you’re excused.” She turned toward us while Hank hurried back to his seat. “As you just saw, we have ways to expose the truth. Destiny is able to extract memories, but she cannot alter them. Likewise, during Destiny’s time with you, you will be unable to change what you saw. You’ll only review what has already come to pass.”
I frowned. “How do we know you’re telling us the truth?”
Malika peered down her nose at me. “What choice do you have? Now, which of you is first?”
CHAPTER 2
I gathered my sisters around me. “I’m going first. I can handle Destiny better than the rest of you.”
Taran wasn’t having any of it. “Screw that, Celia. I’ll go. It’s my fault we’re here. Besides, my badass shields will protect me from that fashion emergency.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I reluctantly nodded. Taran hugged us briefly before confronting Destiny. Emme grabbed my hand again for comfort. I gave her another little squeeze. Shayna didn’t need comforting. So long as I stayed strong, she wouldn’t panic.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. If Taran doesn’t do well, we’ll get the hell out of here or die trying.
Taran stepped forward, and once again the enthusiastic Destiny did, too. I stiffened when she touched Taran’s head. To my surprise, other than a little shudder, Taran didn’t react. A moment later, her memories of the night in question flashed on the screen.
We found our sister had an extremely graphic memory. The first image was innocent enough; it showed Taran and David dancing together at a club. When they entered David’s limo, things took an unexpected turn. Moaning, groaning, and grunting aside, there were some talents people shouldn’t know their sisters possessed. Emme buried her face in her hands. Shayna cringed. She glanced back and forth from the screen to me.
“Make it stop,” she pleaded.
Oh, honey, I wish I could. I was torn between gouging out my eyes and ripping the flat-screen off the wall to beat Taran with it. What was she thinking? This totally went against our “must not date anything that consumes blood” rule we made last year—the first time I caught her flirting with a vampire. I rubbed my face. Good heavens. It was bad enough to invite a vampire into our home, but to end up having her escapades broadcast like the finale of American Idol was so wrong.
The vampires seemed to enjoy the show. A few fanned their faces and shifted closer to their neighbors for a little cuddle time.
“Tell me when it’s over,” Emme whispered.
An uncomfortable length of time passed before we actually segued to the assault in Taran’s bedroom. I watched David roughly bind Taran’s hands with his tie and expose his fangs, which struck me as strange. This wasn’t foreplay. This was a predator immobilizing prey.
I raised an eyebrow at Shayna, who shook her head, equally confused. Vamps were never hostile to their victims. They didn’t have to be. Humans found them irresistible, and the experience supposedly proved orgasmic for both. Everyone in the courtroom remained mesmerized by the scene. I wasn’t. I tensed, knowing the moment that would seal our fate quickly approached.
On the screen, Taran yelled, “You bastard! Don’t you dare bite me!” The rows of vampires behind me hissed like a nest of angry
serpents. Taran’s core flared blue and white before it catapulted a fireball into the aforementioned bastard. The next image showed me breaking down Taran’s door. My green eyes were wild and my long curly hair a mess from sleep. Yet it was the skimpy tank top and lace panties I’d worn that made me blush. I glanced at Misha, who gave me yet another appraising look-see.
My eyes narrowed. Is he flirting? No, of course not. He’s probably just hungry. Men don’t flirt with me. They race away screaming.
I returned my focus to the screen in time to watch myself wrench David up and heave him through the window. The onlookers gasped when they watched me touch his flaming form with my bare hands. Vampires hated fire. Fortunately, they also witnessed Emme and Shayna freeing Taran from her binds, proving they were uninvolved.
When the final image showed the four of us staring down at the pile of blood and ash scattered on our front lawn, Destiny released Taran’s head. Taran slumped to the floor and promptly vomited. We ran to her.
“Son of a bitch,” she muttered between coughs.
While some obviously repulsed vampires mopped up Taran’s mess, another female judge fixed her eyes on Emme. I wasn’t surprised. Emme had our father’s fair skin and blond hair, distinguishing her from the rest of us who inherited our Latin mother’s darker tones. I thought Emme resembled an angel in her soft pink dress. The judges probably thought she resembled dessert.
The judge played with the edges of her robe in teasing strokes. It was hard to appear slutty in an outfit that resembled a muumuu with a zipper, but this vamp managed. She leaned forward, crooning to Emme in an alarmingly alluring voice, “Come to me, little one. There’s something I wish to share with you alone.”
Emme stepped closer to me. “I’d rather not,” she responded.
Judge Malika turned to her colleagues. She whispered, unaware my hearing was as sharp as hers. “Sofia just tried to call their weakest one and you saw she failed to react. Clearly, these Wird sisters are immune to our magic, and yet young David attempted to feed from one.”
The others nodded, but otherwise said nothing. I bit back a smirk. Since vampires were strict about keeping their existence a secret, it was illegal to drink from someone who couldn’t be hypnotized into forgetting the experience. They were also required to erase fang marks by licking the wound. I thought we’d gained some leverage until I caught Judge Malika’s sinister glee.
“Young David attempted an illegal feed,” she said. “Your response, however, was exceedingly violent. I sense your collective power. You could have easily contained David and contacted his master. Sir Aleksandr would have dealt with him.”
“Excuse me.” Shayna cautiously addressed the judges. “We didn’t know your rules. We were just trying to protect our sister.”
Judge Malika pursed her lips. “Then perhaps you shouldn’t associate with those whose ways are unfamiliar to you.”
Her condescending tone infuriated me, but I thought better of lashing out. Instead, I tried to clarify her words. “According to you, David committed a serious crime. What would’ve happened to him if we had contacted Misha?”
The four judges raised their eyebrows in unison, and a wave of muttering rippled through the courtroom. I realized I had insulted Misha by failing to use his proper title. My scowl deepened. Considering we might die at his hands, I didn’t give a crap about formalities.
I glanced over, expecting him to take offense. Instead, he gave me a small nod and a wide, wicked grin. Either I’d impressed him with my backbone or my backside. Regardless, no way would I allow him to take a chunk out of me.
The male judge answered me instead of Judge Malika. He wasn’t any peachier. “Sir Aleksandr would have turned young David over to us to discipline. As per our laws, we would have sentenced him to three months of daily torture sessions, but not death.” The judge trained his focus on Taran. “You set him on fire. Had you been alone, we may have excused your actions by reason of self-defense. But you weren’t.” He pointed an accusing finger at us. “You were all present; therefore the fight was unjust.” He sat back and crossed his arms, inordinately pleased with his reasoning.
I shook my head, refusing to accept his judgment. Something wasn’t right; vampires didn’t attack without provocation.
“Now, if there is nothing further, we will adjourn and return with our verdict.” Judge Malika nodded to dismiss Destiny.
My sisters gasped, likely shocked at how quickly Her Honor had wrapped up our case. Well, not if I could help it…
“Wait. Take my testimony.” Perhaps there was something I’d seen to explain David’s aggression. I took a breath and stepped forward, ready to meet Destiny, and knowing I was probably in for a lot of pain. Unlike Taran, I didn’t have protective shields to keep me safe from harm.
Destiny shrugged and cracked her knuckles right before she grabbed my head. Instantly, it felt like she’d replaced the blood to my brain with battery acid. My cries were horrid as every nerve in my body rioted from the scalding torture. Despite all that, and my full-body convulsions, my version of that night’s events popped into my mind and onto the plasma screen.
I watched David crash into Taran’s dresser when she launched her fireball into his chest. He glared at me when I cut off his screams by crushing his throat. Precisely then, I heard Judge Malika’s voice echo in my head. “Stop!” It was as if she’d hit the pause button on a remote. In the frozen image, David’s eyes flashed green—the bright peridot green from a bloodlust infection.
Urgent whispers filled the courtroom as Destiny released me. I crashed to the floor, vomiting. Unlike Taran, I purposely aimed for Destiny’s hideous white platform sandals. All sympathy for that pitiful ensemble was gone, considering the torment she’d subjected me to. To my credit, I didn’t cry, whereas Tim continued to sniffle somewhere behind me.
The room spun. I staggered to my feet. To my right, vampire guards restrained my struggling sisters. Shayna’s breath came fast, and tears streamed down Emme’s face. Taran was all fury. “I’m okay,” I choked. It was a lie. My entire body hurt like I’d taken on a wererhino. But I knew I’d recover.
The guards released my family after a firm nod from Judge Malika. They rushed to me. Emme grabbed me in a tight embrace. Her soft yellow light quickly encased me, instantly extinguishing my remaining pain and nausea. She obstructed part of my view, but I caught Shayna reaching for her toothpicks and converting the minute pieces of wood into long, sharp needles.
Taran clenched her teeth and gathered her fire around her. “I’m sorry, Celia. But don’t worry; we’re getting the hell out of here.”
Except for the judges and Misha, all the courtroom attendants surrounded us. As they closed in, I exposed my fangs and claws and matched the vamps’ hisses with a low, threatening growl.
“The Wird girls are not to be harmed. Return to your pews.” Judge Malika spoke softly, but the authority in her voice silenced the house. Within seconds, the audience resumed their seats as if there had never been a disturbance.
I maintained my defensive posture. “Taran, turn down the power. Shayna, hold your position.” My sisters nodded.
Judge Malika tapped her long nails against the dais. “It appears chronic bloodlust played a hand in the events. Since young David’s fate would have been the same had he stood trial, the charges against the defendants are dismissed.”
Taran glared at her. “Wait just a goddamned minute. You’re letting us go, just like that?”
I glared, too—at Taran. “Zip. It. Now.”
Taran narrowed her eyes. “This is bullshit, Celia. Something’s up.”
“Would you rather stay?” Judge Malika asked in a way that clearly said she’d like us to.
Shayna slipped in front of Taran with her palms up. “It’s cool of you dudes not to eat us and stuff. We just want to know why so we”—she motioned her head back at Taran—“don’t ever end up here again.”
Emme tugged frantically on Shayna’s sleeve. Not me. I was ready to knoc
k them both out and throw them over my shoulders. “Seriously? Can we just get the hell out of here?”
The male judge explained slowly, like nothing as stupid as us could possibly exist. “David was in the beginning phase of chronic bloodlust.”
I frowned, confused. I knew bloodlust occurred when a vamp went too long without a feed, and the freaky green eyes had been a giveaway. It was easily remedied, though, by providing the vamp with a supervised feeding so he or she didn’t completely drain the donor. “What do you mean, chronic? I thought bloodlust resolved itself after the infected vampire is fed.”
Judge Malika responded. “Chronic bloodlust results from a powerful magic wielder’s curse. It makes a vampire’s appetite insatiable. The more he feeds, the more he desires, and the deeper he falls into insanity. He’ll lose his beauty and grow in size and strength from overindulgence. His only focus is to continue to eat at any cost.”
“Dude, that sounds sick. How do you cure it?” Shayna asked.
“There is no cure. The vampire must be destroyed,” Malika answered stiffly.
“But how did you know David had chronic bloodlust?” Shayna pressed.
Malika smacked her lips like she could still taste her breakfast. “The first sign was the aggression David demonstrated toward your sister. Violence toward our food is unnecessary. We have no need to kill our prey to feast well. The second was that there was no reason for deprivation. You live in Tahoe. Millions visit there each year; David could have easily fed anytime he wished. Now, if there are no further questions, leave.”
Judge Zhahara scowled with majestic beauty, likely bummed we wouldn’t be sentenced to some miserable death. But when she turned her sights on Misha she smiled with all the warmth of a cobra. “Sir Aleksandr, step forward. Explain to the court why you allowed chronic bloodlust to go unnoticed and undisciplined in your family.”
We tried to exit the courtroom. Misha blocked our path. At first I thought he’d poised himself to attack. I leaped in front of my sisters to protect them. He ignored us, addressing the judges instead. “I assure the court I hold the strictest control over my family.” His voice belied his rage. “On my honor, I will not only discover how this infestation occurred, but I will also hunt and kill all those responsible.” He then turned to us and bowed. “Ladies, you have my deepest apology for this unfortunate incident.”
