Page 133 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Chapter Thirty-Five

Scribe cleared histhroat with a nod from the lord of OneWorld. “Hear, ye. Hear, ye.”

The OneCreator sighed, something he did so well. As he did all things. “Get on with it,” he said, his royal glare a warning.

“Yes, sire. My pleasure, sire.” Rustling his cloak with a flourish, Scribe turned toward the audience which packed the throne room. “Today, our esteemed lord will pass judgment on the black-winged assassin called Dominion and the human Scourge-maybe-not-Scourge Madeline of Earth. They stand accused of breaking a sacred law of the OneCreator, who knows all, sees all, is all.”

“Today, Scribe. We’re on a clock. Give us the short version.” The lord of all of us lobbed a graceful, though masculine, leg over the arm of his throne, leaning into the back of his seat in what some would describe as a royal slouch.

As always, his form was magnificent. Scribe took a moment to document the OneCreator’s attire on an electronic pad, his thoughts controlling the keyboard.

The lord of Vast was clothed in soft, velvety black trousers hanging low on his masculine hips. On this judgment day, he had donned a brocaded satin robe in hues of blue and purple, the likes of which Scribe had never seen. Its fabric was thick. Its folds soft. Its royal cloth tumbling to the floor.

He glanced at his sire. Though the OneCreator was without flaw and always correct, Scribe had imagined a lengthy formal process to precede the announcement of the verdict—an introduction of important parties, a statement of accusations, a summary of the testimony. All would lead to the OneCreator’s most-wise verdict. “Sire. There is a script we follow in these proceedings.”

“Who wrote it?”

“I did, my lord.”

“Rewrite it.”

“Certainly.” Scribe entered a few notes into his pad, reminding himself to edit future court procedures. He did so without malice, though each word he had written for the occasion had been perfect. Later, he would think long and hard on an appropriate revision. Setting his device aside, he opened volume seven of theOneCreator’s Laws. “It is written that no Immortal may offer blood to a Blood Leech Scourge.” His gaze scanned the crowd. “Though I have read the shortened version, the law is clearly written. Praise be to the OneCreator in his wisdom.”

Waving Scribe aside, the greatest being in the galaxy unfolded his masculine form from his throne, pulling himself up to his nearly seven-foot height.

Scribe entered his sire’s actions into his pad.

When the OneCreator stood, his robe parted to bare his bronze, wide chest. He shook his head, his blond hair falling straight down his back, a waterfall of bright sunshine, an appropriate frame for his purple eyes. His feet were bare, his legs mighty, his shoulders broad, his height towering. He was glorious.

Along with the others in the crowd, Scribe awaited the OneCreator’s judgment.

His regal voice thundered across the throne room, holding all gathered in its thrall. “I have heard testimony for and against Dominion and Madeline. I have studied the law of which they stand accused of breaking. I have read the once-lostLaws for Mated Pairs, turned over to the court by the bonded Immortal Jasmine. In those ancient rulings, much latitude is granted to mated pairs.”

Tetrys rose, his fists tugging on the lapels of his robe. His tenor voice spread throughout the courtroom. “I object.”

The OneCreator arched his god-like brows. “How can you object when I have not stated my judgment?”

The prosecution wisely took his seat.

“I have listened to all testimony. I heard that the human may not have been a Scourge. Likewise, my black-winged assassin and Madeline claim a bond, a thread ties them to one another, making them mates. I believe them. So, which law prevails? A mate may take any action deemed reasonable to save a mate? Or no Immortal may willingly allow a Scourge to drink their blood?”

As the attendees held their breath, he announced, “Dominion and Madeline are deemed mates and, therefore, not guilty. And since the hybrid Madeline was never a true Scourge, I will not hold her accountable for being a Blood Leech. Henceforth, they are set free.”

The crowd roared. Scribe nodded at the most-wise ruling while a few booed, though quietly so as not to offend the OneCreator.

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