Page 114 of Bitten Vampire
“I, the Herald of Silence, speak as the voice of the Council. Winifred Crowsdale of Clan Blóðvakt, stand forth and be heard.”
We step into the centre.
“Three nights past,” the Herald intones, “you entered aplea of guilty to unlicensed turning and failure to register, in breach of Accord Code 675.3 and the attendant registry provisions. You alleged, under oath and Accord Code 101.4, that the Grand Master was your sire.”
A ripple passes through the tiers.
“Let the Silence record: Pursuant to Accord Code 101.4: Right of Blood Provenance and Mandatory Sire Verification, the Ministry of Magic conducted a bloodline assay. Result: bite signature—Grand Master confirmed; sire of record—no binding lineage detected. Result inconclusive. In parallel, by Protocol EM-12 under Accord 208.4, an Ethereal Memory Capture was performed. The ocular imprint corroborates the act of fatal feeding by the Grand Master. Your allegation is verified as to the bite and death. The question of siring remains unproven.”
“I have no objection,” the Grand Master replies smoothly. “I was unaware of the turning. Had I known, I would have begged leniency for my son’s mate. Winifred Crowsdale was an unregistered living vampire, and my bite contributed to her death and raising.”
Liar—I lack the DNA to be a living vampire.
I keep my expression neutral. I understand why he says it and why the Council, all nodding along, allow it.
Lander—though I hate to admit it—was right. No one must discover that magic-infused houses can bypass death and twist the change, turning a pure human into a vampire. If they did, every mage on earth would be pressed into service to bottle immortality.
This fiction protects us all.
They forget that true living vampires showobvious signs—heightened senses, strength—but if the Vampirical Council decrees it, the majority accepts it.
Then I realise something else, and relief floods me so sharply it almost brings me to my knees. They are giving me an out, an alibi, explaining everything away. If they are willing to spin this story, we just might survive.
Let them lie all they like, so long as we live.
“As we all know, magic is wild and unpredictable,” the Grand Master continues. “No one is to blame for this oversight. Yet, before my peers and subjects, I admit my mistake: no one is above our laws—least of all me.”
He bows his head, hand to his chest. “My heir and I have reached an understanding: he will assume my role as Grand Master; I will step down and uphold the Accord’s strictures regarding humans.”
The vampires watch, rapt with fascination.
The Herald inclines his head. “The Council will confer on remedy and sanction under Accord 675.3 and on matters of succession noticed this night pursuant to Accord 401.1: Continuity of Office. The Hall will hold its silence.”
A fresh sheet of warding rises around the councillors; sound dies, and the bone-white tiers lean forward to listen to nothing at all.
This time I can’t eavesdrop; like everyone else, I must wait. My anxiety climbs, yet the discussion appears calm—no anger, little dissent. They reach a decision quickly.
Good or bad? I can’t tell.
The ward falls.
The Herald steps forward, staff in hand. His voice rings out?—
Chapter Forty-Three
“We,the Vampirical Council, having conferred, now speak judgment. As to your plea of guilty to unlicensed turning and failure to register breaches of Accord Code 675.3 and the attendant registry provisions: by findings entered this night, Ministry bloodline assay under Accord 101.4 and Ethereal Memory Capture under Accord 208.4, the victim of record.Let the Silence record: Winifred Crowsdale is adjudged to have been a living vampire at the material time. Under Accord 675.3(b), the Living Condition Exception, the prohibition on unlicensed turning does not attach. The plea is amended to not guilty by operation of law.
“As to registry, the Council grants immediate cure and grace under Accord 910.2(f) for anomalous states: your status and gifts shall be entered forthwith upon proper filing.”
A hush tightens, then trembles.
“As to the Grand Master: the Ministry’s instruments confirm his bite and fatal feeding upon the living vampire Winifred Crowsdale; however, no binding sire-line is detected. The Human Compact at Accord 3.1 does not apply to the death of one adjudged living vampire, and the predicate for capital sanction under Accord 221.9, Unlawful Predation is here mitigated by extenuation, admission, and succession settlement. The Council enters a formal censure and no further charge.”
The Grand Master inclines his head, eyes glittering. “I thank the Council for its wise judgement.”
He has played us and the Vampirical Council masterfully. He gets away with everything. But at least we get away alive.
“The Grand Master has noticed his intent to abdicate pursuant to Accord 401.1 and 401.4. Grand Master, do you withdraw?”
