Page 95 of Of Mercury and Mist

After summoning one of my wraiths for another glass of blood and downing it, I shifted my mind to exactly where I wanted to be and soon found myself in the foyer of the Second Realm’s main palace.

The crowd weaved around me, nonplussed at my sudden appearance in their midst. A couple eyed me curiously after several seconds, but soon I felt the atmosphere change.

They knew I was here.

The reception desk was about a hundred feet away and I headed straight for it, knowing I’d be forced to check in. Better to beat them to the punch, and all that. If I was going to plead mercy, I’d have to start off on my best behavior.

No sooner had I stepped up to the counter than I was surrounded by soldiers. My shoulders tensed, anticipating rough treatment. They circled me, caging me in.

“Look what we have here,” a voice drawled. “You’re either blindingly stupid, or you have a death wish. Perhaps both.”

I didn’t recognize the man, but he introduced himself as Ethan. “I’d say nice to meet you but we both know it's not,” I replied, as I was patted down and relieved of all my weapons. I knew it would happen, but that didn’t mean I’d arrive bare. Entry without defensive tools was more suspicious.

“Micha Carnea,” I said holding out my hand.

He ignored the gesture and held his hand up to motion with his fingers before the woman behind the counter handed him a tablet. I placed my hand on the outstretched device and the machine scanned my fingerprints, ether, and blood. The screen flashed in warning and a notification glared across the screen stating I was to be detained with prejudice. I expected as much.

Iron cuffs were placed around my wrists and the soldiers formed a circle, escorting us to the main hall. The normal fanfare was abandoned, on principle. No one would’ve guessed I’d arrive willingly, though I couldn’t say they didn’t know it would happen at some point. They had my woman, after all.

“Who is leading the cases involving crossbreeds?” I asked.

“Diego has taken over,” Ethan stated. “He’s currently presiding over a ceremony, but he’ll be free any moment now.”

The doors opened before us and as I was led forward, I racked my brain for what I knew of Diego.

He’d always struck me as more administrative than action focused. A pencil-pusher. That didn’t mean much but it gave me a sliver of hope.

After a short walk, my escorts halted and parted, revealing Diego on the throne. A contingent of armored and helmeted soldiers streamed from his right and his left, poised for action should I attack. The man had to have known me better than that, having worked with me in the past. Under Josiah’s direction, I’d learned to plan and strategize before making a move, I wasn’t about to rush him, though visions of doing precisely that filled my head.

“Calm down,” Diego tutted, instantly sensing my violent thoughts. “You are here to atone for your sins. You will respect my position,” he warned, the men surrounding me stepping closer.

Foolishly, I strained against the handcuffs. The harder I fought, the more they burned into my skin, spelled with magic to do harm commensurate with my efforts.

I stilled. “What are the charges against me, my lord?” It would do me no good to rile him up by struggling.

Diego stood. “The crimes of treason, treachery, theft, and elder murder,” he announced to the gathering crowd.

I couldn’t see much past the bank of metal and leather-clad bodies. Whispers and hushed voices swam around the room, raising a darkly excited energy that filled the space. Hungry spectators had gathered around to witness the event of my sentencing, drawn in like sharks that’d sensed blood.

No one remembered the last time a member of the Collective had been killed. No one would dare strike them down from their revered and respected positions. No one would even dream of it. Yet I had been instrumental in the very act that had once been considered unthinkable and now it was time to pay the price.

There would be no trial, no legal representation, no witness testimony. It was pointless, anyway, as we all knew what I did and no one would deny it, least of all me. I was guilty; but felt no remorse. We all knew I would do it again.

“Who are you?” I twisted my head and glanced at Ethan. Diego was narrating the details of my crime to the crowd, which had grown in number if the stifling atmosphere was any indication. It’d gone from pleasant, to weighty, bringing a claustrophobic flavor to the air. The gathering was divided into two sections but there was no clear line of sight to the other.

Ethan bent down and grabbed my ankle, fixing a set of chains around my feet. “I’m the court’s enforcer, seeing as the position was open.”

I’d been wondering who’d filled Josiah’s job.

Heat filled my legs as the magic-bound metal did its job. The walk to the cells would be difficult and all I could hope for was they’d carry me.

Footsteps, heavy against the black marble, sounded as Diego approached. “Kneel,” Ethan ordered.

Before I could comply with the directive, something hard hit my head, and I dropped. Remaining on all fours, a set of boots appeared beneath my face. “On your knees, boy,” Diego commanded.

I pushed back to sit on my heels, keeping my head bowed. At any moment, I could feel the hot slice of steel, my head being severed from my body. On the slightest whim, the man could stretch out his fingers and tear my heart from his chest. The organ thumped below my ribs, adrenaline rushing through my veins. The urge to strike out and shred him to pieces was staggering.

“My Lord,” my voice rumbled, fists clenched against the cold.

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