“Yes. I did.”
“You do realize that is an offense punishable by fire, do you not?”
“I do,” I say, fighting to find my voice. “And I would do it again if I had to.”
The witches from the other coven’s council lean together, whispering. They don’t know the details of what happened, and I sound pretty insane and totally guilty right now.
“She admits guilt to her crime,” another Grand Master booms throughout the hall. “Per witch-law the trial is over, and her punishment shall be dealt with.”
“There were extenuating circumstances.” A witch from my council stands up. “I’d like to testify on her behalf.”
“As do I.” Evander rises, eyes set on me.
Kristy shoots up next. “As do I.”
“As do we,” Nicole and Naomi say at the same time.
“Me too,” Brooke, the young witch we helped escape through the door says, much to her mother’s chagrin. “She saved us.”
Her father stands up next, followed by the girl’s brother and then her mother. Tabatha meets my eye and gives me a small nod. She’s not allowed to testify on my behalf, but the look on her face says it all. We’ve got you, Callie.
I swallow the lump of emotion rising in my throat and watch several other witches stand, willing to testify for me.
“I’ll testify.” Ruby Darrows stands, holding her head high. She doesn’t specify if she’s testifying for or against me. My money is on against.
Albert nods and holds out his hand, pointing to Ruby. “I call you forth, Ruby Darrows. Let the council know she is a professor here at Grim Gate Academy.” Ruby sidesteps out of the pew and comes up to the altar. She goes to the podium and is given the black candle, being sworn in to tell the truth.
“Please explain the nature of your relationship with Callista Martin,” Albert orders.
“I’ve known Callista—or Callie, as we call her—since her first year here at the Academy.”
“Would you consider the two of you friends?”
“Quite the opposite, actually. Callie and I had our fair share of differences throughout the years.” She’s looking at the council next to me. “During our years at the Academy, Callie was quite the troublemaker, as she continues to be today.”
I shift my weight in the chair, sweat dripping down between my breasts. The fuck, Ruby?
“But I know without a doubt, Callie Martin would never bring harm to her coven. I testify on her behalf. I was not there that night, but I heard from the witches who were that the vampire assisted Callie and risked his own afterlife to keep demons at bay so the door could be opened.”
The other coven’s council members whisper amongst themselves.
“And tell me,” Albert goes on. “Do you believe it was absolutely necessary for the vampire to be there?”
“Like I said, I wasn’t there,” Ruby presses and I’m pretty sure Hell just froze over. She’s defending me? Maybe I do have a chance at getting out of here alive. “But from what I was told, yes. As we all know, vampires possess strength and senses we do not. The vampire was the first to realize demons were headed toward the door and alerted Callie and her familiars to assist in protecting the witches who needed to escape to the Covenstead.”
Albert speaks with the other two members of the Grand Coven and then dismisses Ruby. He calls forth Brooke next, and she clutches her mother’s hand the whole way to the altar.
“What is your name, darling?” Albert asks Brooke and crouches down to her level. His eyes are kind, unlike Ruth’s. I’m trying not to lump him in the same shit-list as Ruth. They sat on the Grand Council together, but that doesn’t mean he’s an asshat too.
“Brooke.”
“And how do you know Callie?”
“I’ve seen her at gatherings.” Brooke looks at me and I give her a small smile.
“Do you know the night Ruby was talking about?” he asks and Brooke nods. “Can you tell the council what happened?”
“It’s okay,” her mother encourages.
“We went to Callie’s house because it was safe and closer to the door than our house. We were waiting.”
“What were you waiting for?”
Brooke looks at her mom, who reminds her they were waiting for Evander to show up with backup. “Callie and her friend got there first.”
“The vampire?”
Brooke nods again. “He said he’s never had pizza.”
A few people laugh and Brooke gets embarrassed.
“How sad for him. I do love a good pizza. Now, Brooke, I know it was a scary night, but can you tell us what happened in the woods?”
“There were people. With black eyes. They tried to get into the door and Callie and her friend fought them off. They were like superheroes.”
“Did the vampire scare you? It’s all right if he did. Vampires scare me.”
A human lawyer might have considered that leading the witness. I edge forward, waiting on Brooke’s words.
“No. He was very handsome,” she says, and everyone laughs this time. She blushes. “He was funny too.”
“You never once felt frightened of him?”
She shakes her head. “Nope.”
“Thank you, Brooke. You were very helpful.”
She’s dismissed and one of the witches on the council who was with us that night gives her testimony next. It’s similar to Brooke’s but in more detail, telling everyone what happened and how hard it was to hold the circle of protection against the demons.
“I think we’ve heard enough,” Albert concedes. “The vampire played a vital role in helping the witches and wizards escape as well as fighting off the demons.” He surveys the council. “I have to say this is no ordinary case. Never in my years have I heard of a vampire joining an alliance with a witch. I have made my conclusion, and if the council agrees, I would like to move forth clearing Callista Martin of all charges.”
The two other Grand Coven members stand, dismissing the council to another room where they can discuss my fate. Nine times out of then, the jury rules in favor of the Grand Master who leads the trial, but all it will take is one witch to refuse to forgive me for associating with vampires.
And even if I am cleared, I will be risking everything by staying with Lucas, but that’s a risk I’m more than willing to take.
Because life without Lucas isn’t worth living at all.
I can feel the coven’s eyes on me, and I’m sure there are a few out there who think I was wrong to let a vampire help me. But Lucas isn’t like other vampires, not anymore at least. Folding my hands in my lap, I watch wax drip down the candles on the altar. It shouldn’t take long for the council to reach an agreement. There’s no evidence to go over, as we take our word seriously. Our words cast spells, after all.
Tabatha avoids my gaze and the feeling like she’s hiding something comes back. I focus on the dripping wax again, trying to stay calm. Another minute ticks by.
And then another.
And another.
All I can think about is the longer this takes, the more likely it means people don’t agree on my punishment.
Finally, the council comes back out with Grand Master Albert leading the way. His face is expressionless, and my heart immediately hammers in my chest.
“We have reached a decision.” He pauses for dramatic effect, which annoys me more now that it does when they do that on eliminations rounds on cheesy reality TV shows. “Callista Martin has shown great heroism toward her coven. She has proven deep devotion to protecting the sacred Covenstead and risked her very own life to ensure others live. Bringing a vampire to the door is a great offense, and we can not overlook the danger of a vampire knowing the perfect hunting spot for unsuspecting witches.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up. Lucas isn’t a danger, and I want to jump up and shout it at the entire coven. I press my nails into my palm to hide that I’m shaking.
“Many of us dream of a world full of peaceful coexistence but we must
not forget who our enemies are.”
Yep. Definitely throwing up.
“That vampire is not our enemy.”
A collective gasp whispers throughout the coven. My own jaw drops. What?
“I do not condone any witch being in the presence of any vampires. Never trust a vampire. It’s one of the first things we are taught, is it not? The charges against Callista Martin are hereby dropped.” He leans on the podium and looks at me. “Under one condition.”
I swallow hard and nod my head.
“You are not to consort with vampires ever again. If you are caught, your High Priestess will punish you as the law states.”
Chapter 21
Breathe in.
Hold it.
Breathe out.
My vision is dotted with stars. The wooden arms of the chair bites into my skin from me gripping it so hard. I’m not going to never see Lucas again. That’s not an option. At all. The threat means nothing to me because there is no way in hell I’m letting anything get between me and the man I love.
What upsets me is knowing what would happen to Tabatha if she’s caught withholding punishment. She knows Lucas isn’t just some vampire I hung out with for a while and just happened to be around when demons attacked.
She knows we’re in a committed relationship together. That we’re planning on living together as soon as the house is done.
She knows that I’m in love with him and that there is no fucking way I’m losing him.
“Callie.” Kristy hurries through the crowd of witches leaving the gathering hall and hurries up the altar steps. I’m still sitting in the chair even though I’ve been dismissed. The Grand Coven and council are gone, and Tabatha followed after them needing to do her role as High Priestess.