Skeleton King (The Dirty Heroes Collection Book 9)

by Charity B.

  Her stubbornness frustrates the fuck out of me, yet at the same time I can’t help but be proud of her for her bravery. I’m learning that being in a relationship with someone that can speak and feel is extremely complicated. I’ve also learned how important trusting her is for my sanity. I have to believe she knows what she’s doing.

  Mayor Greer takes his place behind the pulpit as the room falls silent. “As I’m sure many of you have heard, this meeting has been called to serve as the trial for Johnathan ‘Skeleton King’ Tarik Skelver. I request that you stay silent until all testimonies have been heard. Once all parties have spoken, you will be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. You will then be allotted the time to fill out the ballots you received when you arrived. Officers Baron and Lestar Vendire will take them from you when you leave.” Gesturing to Fink, he says, “First we’ll hear from Franklin ‘Fink’ Reginald Stein who feels he was wronged by the accused.”

  Mayor Greer steps away from the pulpit to allow Fink to address the town. Resting his cane against the podium, he uses it for support.

  “Good evening. Most of you have known me and my family for many years. My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all scientists with unconventional methods, and I am no different.” His fingers squeeze the edge of the podium. “As I’m sure you’ve heard at one point or another, I attempted life in the Mundane World after I fell in love and started a family. Unfortunately, that all came to a horrific end, and I truly hope none of you will ever know the pain of losing a child like I did. When I found Sarah and brought her here to Hallows Grove, it was the first time I felt that I could really heal from my loss.”

  I bite my lip because this isn’t supposed to be a debate. I’ll get my chance to speak, but what about Sarah? Yes, he felt he was able to heal, but he did so by pushing his pain on to someone else, giving her no choice in the matter. She was completely innocent.

  “John is here because of me. I brought him into the folds of our utopia, so maybe some of the fault is on me for thinking he was trustworthy. He has known everything about me and Sarah since I brought her here and has never once stated an opinion on the matter. If you know Sarah, you know she can be stubborn and insubordinate.”

  I glance at Sarah whose face is twisted into fury. She has earned every ounce of her rage, and I’m suddenly glad she’s going to speak. If anyone has a right to share their side, it’s her.

  “I tried. For the past decade I did everything in my power to show Sarah that I loved her. But in the end, I wasn’t enough.” He has the audacity to look like she hurt him, as if he’s the victim in this macabre tale. “It hurt me greatly to make the choice to move on from her, but I needed someone that loved me as much as I did them. Sarah was clearly unhappy, and Ogier had the desire to take care of her. Because I still love her, I let her go, deciding to start over in my search for someone who could replace the daughter I lost. And I found someone, a beautiful girl that could give me what Sarah wouldn’t.”

  While I can’t tell how the residents are reacting to his confession, I do know they have history with his bloodline. I, unfortunately, have no such connection.

  “Ogier Oliviar Bognar and I made a fair and just arrangement when it came to Sarah, however, John Skelver interjected himself in our business deal. A deal he was in no way a part of. I was an invited guest in Ogier’s home yesterday when John barged in without permission, threatening us both at gunpoint. This from a man I’d thought was my friend. If we can’t be safe and secure here, in Hallows Grove, then where is the sanctuary where we can?” Whispers and murmurs are exchanged between residents as he continues, “When we would not fold to his outlandish demands, John shot Ogier and beat Ingvar so badly he’s still in extensive pain. Yet that wasn’t enough for him, apparently. He then proceeded to take not only Sarah from Ogier but my new daughter and my only chance at sanity from me. Besides being a traitor and possibly a murderer, John Skelver also broke one of our most sacred rules. He treated me as if I were a degenerate, shaming me for my lifestyle. Here. The one place where we should all be accepted for who we are. My suggestion is death by dismemberment.” Sarah jumps from her seat, opening her mouth as if to say something when she must recall Mayor Greer’s instructions about staying silent, abruptly sitting back down. “I believe he should be physically torn apart since he has emotionally done the same to me. Ogier is still fighting for his life and is currently in a coma. If he dies, John will have killed a respected member of this community while simultaneously orphaning three children.” Clasping his hands together, he nods to the crowd. “Thank you for your time. I’m confident that all of you will make the right choice.” He picks up his cane, glaring at me as he hobbles back to his seat.

  Mayor Greer returns to the podium. “Thank you, Franklin. Now it’s time we hear from the accused.” He turns to me, gesturing to the pulpit. “John, you may now explain your version of these events.”

  I stand on rubber legs, presenting myself to the entire town. “Hello everyone, thank you for being here.”

  Looking down at Sarah, I’m reminded of what I have to lose. If I’m voted guilty, regardless of the punishment, what will happen to her? Will they make her go back to Fink? She nods to me, and I swallow.

  “Franklin is right. I haven’t been a member of Hallows Grove for very long in comparison to most of you. My family has no ties to this place. I’m here because of him, and I’ll always be grateful for that. And yes, I did stand by for years knowing what he did to Sarah. I told myself that I had no room to intervene, and truthfully, I just tried to ignore it. Let’s be honest, though, we all know what his ‘love’ consisted of. You can see her scars, and there are many more you can’t see.”

  It’s hard to get a read on what the spectators are thinking. Some appear angry while others don’t show any sign of emotion. “I believe in this town and what it stands for. This is my home. We all should have a place where we can be free and safe, but what about Sarah? She was never given a choice. He took her from her family and brought her here to experiment on. Of course she was unhappy. While I empathize with his pain, the way he’s gone about fixing it is…” I shift on my feet, gripping tight to the podium. “Wrong.” That gets a reaction, their murmurs rising a few octaves. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I don’t think it’s good. If there’s anything that’s a sin here it’s moral judgement. “I’m not saying I’m blameless, but Sarah is. It took me falling in love with her to truly open my eyes. He’s kept her locked away from all of us, and I believe it was to prevent us from seeing her as a person. I don’t doubt he has some love for her, it’s impossible not to love a person like Sarah, but she deserves the same rights as all of us.”

  Standing up straight, I give them my confession. “So, yes, when I learned that Fink, Franklin, had given Sarah to Ogier, I felt compelled to save her. You all know what Ogier does to his whores. I went to his house with a gun and the intention to threaten him with it if I had to. What I didn’t expect was for Fink to be there. During our confrontation, he ordered Ingvar to attack me, and when he did, the gun went off in my hand. Shooting Ogier was an accident, and I only beat up Ingvar to protect myself. When I found the little Mundane girl Franklin stole to replace Sarah, another child taken from their family, I took the girl home where she belongs.”

  Sarah holds Nothing back as he keeps trying to come to me onstage. “I may not be a Hallows Grove native, but you all know me. I would never do anything to hurt any of you. Of course I want to stay, to continue being your Skeleton King, but what I really want to ask of you is to give Sarah her freedom regardless of the outcome of this trial,” I plead with them, still having no better idea of how they’re feeling. “Thank you for listening, and no matter what happens, I will always be grateful to every single one of you for making this place a home for me the last twelve years.”

  Returning to my seat, I pass Mayor Greer who gives me a subtle nod, seemingly approving of my statement. “Thank you, John. Next we’ll li
sten to the testimony of Sarah Elizabeth Stein who has requested to speak on John’s behalf.” He waves her on. “Come on up, sweetheart.”

  As soon as she stands, Nothing sprints onto the stage to sit next to me. I’m grateful for it because this might be the last time I get to pet him.

  Sarah looks over her shoulder at me with a small smile when she reaches the podium. Lifting her chin, she addresses the crowd. “Hi, um, I’m Sarah. I know I’ve never spoken to most of you, but I’ve lived here with Fink since I was nine years old. I had a family and a real name once, but I don’t remember them.” Her voice breaks, and she inhales a deep breath, presumably trying to compose herself. Holding out her arm, she points to her scars. “I’ve been cut countless times, put through endless procedures, and raped nearly every single day. While I know this trial is for John, I think it’s important you know what he was saving me from, and why he didn’t want Sandy, the Mundane girl, to have the same life.” Turning toward Fink, she speaks directly to him. “I will never be who I could have been because of you. You killed the child I was and cut out any chance of me having my own.”

  Her words click into place, and I gape at him. Ever since Ogier mentioned her infertility, I’ve had questions, there just hasn’t been a time that felt right to broach the subject. When I found out, I had assumed it was because of natural causes, so hearing that she was forced to be barren has me wanting to cross the stage and beat the piss out of Fink’s crippled ass. The only thing stopping me is the effect it could have on the trial. While I’ve never thought about having children before, seeing as corpses can’t be knocked up, knowing it’s impossible with Sarah because of Fink causes a painful ache in the center of my chest.

  Facing back toward the residents, she continues, “All these things were done by a man who says he cared for me. At one time, I believed he did. Ogier didn’t even like me, so you can imagine how horrendous my short time with him was. John is the first person that has ever let me decide if I want to be touched. He is the first person that really cares about my thoughts and feelings. I know he broke a lot of rules, but he did it to save me, not to hurt anyone. Please don’t punish him for trying to help me.” She walks away before rushing back to the podium. “Thank you.”

  Every single eye is on Sara as she returns to her seat. I doubt any of them have ever heard her speak more than a few words. Even Mayor Greer seems a little taken aback as he returns to the pulpit.

  “Thank you for sharing, Sarah. I have known Fink my entire life, and John since he first arrived. Both men have my respect. While it’s pretty clear that John did some things that are in clear violation of our laws, and Fink was well within his legal rights, I think intent should play a major part in your decision tonight. John did what he did because he fell in love and wanted to protect her. Both men are an asset to this town, and up until this incident, have lived here peacefully. Ogier being wounded was an unfortunate side effect, however, it was unintentional. Ingvar will eventually heal, and John was only acting in self-defense. If you must find him guilty of the charges, I propose a smaller punishment, such as community service or a fine.” Adjusting the mic, he clears his throat. “Does anyone have any questions before the votes are cast?”

  Mammoth’s best friend, Kline, stands. He’s wearing his normal clothes, which are still a bit clownish with the polka dots and stripes, but his voice is much deeper than it is when he’s in costume. “My question is for John. What’s keeping the girl you returned from telling the Mundaners about where she was?”

  Even though I expected this question, I’m nervous that my response won’t give the comfort required to ease their worry. “She just wanted to go back home. I told her she could hurt a lot of people if she mentioned where she’d been. She swore to me she wouldn’t. I suppose I’m asking you to trust me.”

  Cyrus Klopper raises his hand. “I have a question for John as well.” I don’t know much about Cyrus other than he only has one eye and has a pension for wearing skin suits like the one he has on now. “What if Fink finds another kid? Will you do this again?”

  I have thought about this, and honestly planned to talk to the Mayor about forbidding Mundane minors from being brought inside the gates. “I hope that doesn’t happen because I don’t believe a child’s life should be taken from them. So, while I wouldn’t go about it the same way, I would continue to fight it until the child was returned, yes.” I can almost feel Fink’s eyes burning holes into the side of my face. “Even if I didn’t have personal issues with kidnapping children, it’s dangerous for all of us. Mundane police forces are finding new and more precise ways to find evidence every day. If they come here looking for a missing child, there will be no way to stop them, and you know what happens to all of us if that occurs.”

  Mayor Greer waits a few seconds before asking, “Are there any more questions?” When nobody responds, he says, “All right then. Please fill out your ballots and leave them with Officer Baron or Officer Lestar on your way out. If you would like to stay for the ruling, you are more than welcome to. Thank you for coming and doing your part to keep our town the great place that it is.”

  I watch as one by one, they drop their ballots into the cardboard boxes being held by Officers Baron and Lestar. I’d like to think that after hearing Sarah’s, Mayor Greer’s, and my testimony the residents are leaving here feeling differently than they did when they arrived. Truthfully, though, I have no idea what’s going through their minds. Mayor Greer walks over to take a seat at a long folding table on the right side of the stage.

  When the last form is slipped into the boxes, Officer Baron and Officer Lestar carry them to the Mayor.

  Fink stands, limping off the stage as he tells him, “I need to get back to Ogier and Ingvar. I’ve been gone much too long already.”

  Mayor Greer nods. “Of course. I’ll phone you with the results.”

  I stand and pace back and forth to pass the time. As Mayor Greer counts and tallies the responses, Sarah climbs onto the stage, pulling me into my chair as she takes the seat next to me.

  “Are you okay?” she whispers.

  I take her hand, lacing our fingers together. “We’re going to find out soon.”

  Low conversations are being held all across the room. More than half of the spectators stayed to hear the outcome, and I’m sure Fink would have remained if he didn’t have to keep a close eye on Ogier. One hand holding Sarah’s and the other on Nothing keeps me from going crazy while waiting. There couldn’t be more than seventy votes to be counted, so Greer’s got to be getting close.

  Sarah’s head rests on my shoulder as she takes a deep breath. “Thank you for what you said tonight. It meant a lot to hear.”

  Holding her chin, I give her a kiss while I know I still can. “I should have said it much sooner.”

  Mayor Greer’s chair scrapes against the floor as he stands and returns to the stage with his notepad. “Okay, we’ll start with the lowest votes and go from there.” Sarah squeezes my hand as Nothing looks up at me, apparently sensing the tension so I scratch his ear. “Banishment from Hallows Grove came in with only two votes.” It’s not too surprising, banishing someone risks them telling the wrong people about the kind of town this is. “Death by dismemberment or hanging has also been eliminated with ten votes.” A small sob escapes from Sarah before she hurries to cover her mouth. When she turns to look at me, her eyes are wet with tears. She moves her hand, and I see she’s smiling before her arms squeeze around my neck in a tight hug. It’s still so foreign to have someone care this much about me. “Innocence also is off the table coming in at twelve votes.” Fuck. I wish he would just say it already instead of putting on this show of his. “With eighteen votes, there will be no jail time.”

  I let out a huge breath, leaning forward on my knees. “Oh, thank God.”

  “Which means Johnathan Tarik Skelver will serve no less than a thousand hours of community service or pay no less than a five thousand dollar fine for his crimes.” There are a few claps acro
ss the room before they are dismissed. “Again, thank you for your participation. I hope you all have a good evening.”

  I stand and Sarah jumps up after me. “What does that mean exactly?”

  Pulling her against my chest, I laugh, relieved that I’m not being locked in a cell or worse. “It means I’ll be doing a lot of free labor for a while.”

  Even though I messed up, most of the town trusts me enough to give me another chance. There are of course those who believe that I deserve to die for what I did, but Fink was bound to have some people take his side.

  Mayor Greer walks up to us with clasped hands. “Congratulations, John.” He nods to Sarah. “You did a fantastic job tonight.”

  Her skin turns pink as she smiles. “Thank you.”

  “Can I have a minute with John?”

  Sarah looks at me, and I nod in the direction of my house. “Take Nothing home. I’ll be there in a bit.” Even saying that gives me chills. From the grin on her face, I’d be willing to bet she likes hearing it just as much.

  Waiting until she’s out of earshot, Mayor Greer says, “You made a good point tonight about the unwanted attention that allowing Mundane minors inside the gates could potentially bring. I’d like you to write up a proposition for me to present to the council.”

  I can feel myself gaping at him. Is he serious? “Really? That would be incredible.” He can be a prick, there’s no denying that, but right now I could hug him. “Thank you…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t get mushy. No offense, but this isn’t about your feelings. This is about protecting Hallows Grove.” He tucks his hands into his pockets, backing away from me. “Bring the proposition to my office on Monday when we go over where you need to be for this week’s service hours. Now go home and fuck the girl you just risked everything for.” He chuckles to himself on his way off the stage.

  While I plan on doing just that, right now, I’m more excited to tell her about the proposition. If it gets passed by the town council, then nothing like what Fink did to Sarah and Sandy will ever happen again.