Page 25 of Absolved In Death

Judas walked into the training facility with a measured stride, his head held high. His crisp black suit and gleaming fangs gave him an air of danger. A sense of quiet confidence he’d been missing earlier today. Trailing him were three individuals in hooded, floor length robes. One black, one white, and one ocean blue. The garments covered them completely, betrayingno clue of who held our fate in their hands. Their energy was dispiriting. I could feel the little conviction we all had in our plan wither and die with their arrival. Everyone shifted in their seats, waiting for the unknown to finally happen.

One by one, they took seats at the other end of the long table. The being in the white robe raised a hand, and an identical card from the emergency meeting appeared in the center. The black card with a white star—the ominous trademark symbol to prove they were really members of the Princeps Council. They skipped introductions, getting straight to business.

“We only wish to speak to the head of the Costa Coven and the Morningstars. The rest of you may leave,” the figure in white robes said. Their voice was ethereal and musical while being distinctly male sounding. I had never heard such a voice before in my life.

“With all due respect, that will not happen,” Ares replied. His deep voice was calm, betraying none of the anger I knew he felt at the idea of us being separated in such a tension-riddled environment. “I am Ares, son of Zeus, God of War and Personification of Chaos. Diana Morningstar is myAdelphi Psyche, and I will protect her at all costs.”

The rest of my men nodded their agreement.

“I claimed Diana Morningstar. Incubus law and customs dictate that our bond is eternal, and thus I will be present with her for this meeting,” Bash stated.

“The Archangel Michael, her father, blessed our soulbond. I am here to serve as her guidance in a spiritual and advisory capacity,” Azazel followed.

“My lady wants me here, and her wants outweigh your orders,” Mal sneered, donning the old, impenetrable mask of snark and sarcasm he used to wear with me before we made amends.

“As a legacy member of the Princeps Council, I am staying to ensure Diana gets as fair a trial as she can, considering your predilection toward biased rulings.” Desmond’s professional business voice was calm, but shots were fired. He basically called them crooks.

“We came to try the Morningstar family and Judas Costa,” the figure in white said.

“With the exception of Michael, Judas Costa, and my son, Oisín, the men at this table are who my daughter chooses to spend her immortal life with. For all intents and purposes they are considered members of the Morningstar family and will be present for the proceedings,” Lucifer said, his voice unrelenting.

The three figures sat in silence for several moments before nodding in unison. The figure in the black robe cocked their head to the side, staring in my direction like a predator sizing up its prey. It was unnerving that I could not see the face behind the hood, only shadow.

“Two fathers. A mother returned from the dead. Five lovers. A host of armies from all over the paranormal gamut willing to lay their lives on the line for your family’s ascension to a throne it has forsaken, including the Greek gods and monsters from other realms. How peculiar you are Diana Rossi Morningstar…” the figure in black said in a feminine, unaffected voice.

My heart sank to my stomach. They knew about Mom. I wasn’t sure if she mentioned her as a threat, or to prove the council had eyes and ears inside our army. Either way, I refused to show them my fear.

“Everything about me is extraordinary,” I quipped with an arrogance I didn’t particularly feel. But I sure as Hell would fake it until I made it.

Don’t taunt them! You’re going to make yourself a target,Desmond growled into my head.

Fuck him. I understood his reasoning—they would be put off by my power and lineage—but I refused to sit here like a church mouse while they strode in here and passed judgment for something that was not our fault. Red’s actions were not ours. They would not weaken us or hinder our cause.

They came into our home and targeted us with an unfair trial. They would pay the price.

“The trail of the Morningstar family and Judas Costa begins henceforth. The Princeps Council holds the right to charge and try anyone suspected of breaking the three cardinal laws that govern the paranormal community. The first law: keep the paranormal community secret from humans at all costs. The second law: do not reveal a paranormal being’s magical ability to the humans as revenge. The third law: the Princeps Council—which is composed of representatives from all parts of the paranormal community—has been invested with the power to protect and govern the magical community, and has the right to bring justice to those who break the cardinal laws. Those suspected of wrongdoing will be punished as the Council sees fit, for the safety and preservation of the community,” the figure in white proclaimed, as if he was reading from a script.

The figure in black cleared her throat, turning her head toward Lucifer. “We came today to charge you with three counts of breaking our first cardinal law, regarding secrecy. The first count—your war with Red caused the exposure of the paranormal world on a mass platform. That law is necessary because it protects both us and the non-paranormals, because the latter audience is often afraid of what it does not understand. Although we are aware you did not break this law directly, we feel you hold some responsibility for it, as it was used as a tactic against you.”

Victim-blaming much?I linked Zaz.They’re ridiculous.

True, but it’s how they demonstrate the firm hand needed to rule the paranormal world,he explained.

“The second count,” black robes carried on, “is because you brought Marilyn Rossi, a deceased mortal witch, back to life. This is also a breach of secrecy, due to having to explain her existence.”

“Like mother, like daughter,” I interrupted, to the shock of everyone at the table. “I was also presumed dead, yet here I sit, with no charges brought against me. Both of your charges so far are frivolous and lack merit. Marilyn Rossi was never dead, but was kept in a state of equilibrium, thus we never brought her back to life. We didn’t break the secrecy law because she has been held at this compound, out of the public eye,” I argued.

“That is enough, Ms. Morningstar,” the figure in black spat with venom, obviously upset that I interrupted their bullshit trial.

Keep going, sis. Make these fuckers pay,Oisín shouted through our link.

“You can wait, I’m not finished. The paranormal world’s existence has already been exposed, by Red, through no fault or coercion of anyone at this table. We had nothing to do with his actions, directly or indirectly. So your first charge is wrongly brought against us. We are victims impacted by his poor decision, just like the rest of the world. Furthermore, if the paranormal world is already exposed, my mother’s reappearance is a moot point.”

Yes, LG, tell them!Ares linked me.Fucking trolls.

Even though I couldn’t see their faces, I could feel their outrage at being interrupted. They were the high law of the paranormal world, and here I was, unraveling their bullshit charges one by one. Desmond shook his head with disappointment, but I ignored him. They would not come for my mother, me, or anyone else sitting at this table.

Blue Robes, the largest figure of the three, cleared their throat before continuing. “The third charge is for Diana Morningstar alone. Due to the uncontrollable nature of her very new magic, some members of the Council feel it presents a danger to the paranormal and human communities. Her lack of control is a threat.”

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