Page 123 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Leaning forward, an elbow on his knee, the OC puzzled his brows. “How did you force Dominion? He is bigger than you.”

“I ... I begged him. Made him feel guilty.”

Michael held Dom in his seat. “No,” he whispered. Rising as if to cross-examine Madeline, he announced he would question her about the incident when he called her to testify.

At that point, Tetrys rested the prosecution’s case. “The verdict is simple. You have heard the law, and the defendants admitted to violating it. What could be clearer? Only one conclusion can be reached.” He glanced briefly toward Madeline and Dom. “Both are guilty. Of course, the decision and punishment are yours, beloved OneCreator.”

The OC flipped an errant strand of blond hair over his shoulder. “Yes, it is. Thank you for stating the obvious.”

If the judgment were as easy as Tetrys said, Madeline conceded they were fried.

Chapter Thirty-Three

The room tilted. Domgrabbed onto Maddy’s chair to keep it from toppling to the floor as Michael rose to introduce his case. The Bearer of Death slammed his hands onto the table to steady himself. Even the OneCreator’s throne swayed along with other furniture in the room.

The OC clutched his temples with his palms and roared.

Dom didn’t miss his pained reaction. Nobody could deny the quake’s effect on the OC as he jumped to his feet, flinging out his arms. His voice traveled far beyond the walls of the throne room. “Cease!” he bellowed.

All ground movement stopped, but his face reddened, his eyes narrowing into angry slits and his lips curling into a snarl. In an unexpected rage, he flew across the room, grabbing Dom by the throat. “You have broken my law and brought this upon OneWorld.” He squeezed.

Dom gasped for air, only moments from extinction.

Maddy wrestled with the OneCreator’s arm. When she touched him, he cast a stunned look at her, seeming to notice her for the first time. “What...? What the hell...?” he spit out, backhanding her in his fit of temper, sending her across the room. At the last moment and with an obvious change of mind, he cradled her fall with a cushion of air.

Michael intervened, a blinding light streaming from his body. He tugged on the OC’s fingers to pry them loose from Dom’s neck.

The OneCreator glanced at his hands as if he were surprised by his anger and actions. He released Dom. Maddy sat up as though nothing had happened.

Rushing to Madeline, Dom crouched beside her to check for injuries. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. He didn’t hurt me. I think he actually softened my fall.”

The OC stormed toward the exit, pausing in the doorway to shout, “Court is in recess until we find out what the fuck is happening.” He pointed at Michael and the Feard. “You, you, you, and you, with me now.”

Assured Maddy was uninjured, Dom rubbed his throat, rasping to the OC, “I can help.”

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