Page 120 of Until the End of Ever
"The simple fact you persist on calling the deceased abitchdoesn't look good for you, Regis," Castor sneered. "But also, all of the woman's energy was drained. To the knowledge of this council, this is a power only two men in the entire world possess at the moment: Cassius and Lucian Regis. Are you accusing your grandfather, Mr. Regis?"
"I am not."
"Then this council will vote."
"It will not."
Everyone turned as my heart raced in my chest.
Kleos.
No, no, fuck, what is she doing here?
Why was she…beautiful. She looked beautiful as she ran inside the forum,Ronan, Lucky, Silver, and Gideon behind her. After not seeing her for days, despite my worry, it was the only thing I could focus on at first.
Next, I noticed how haggard the entire group seemed. Those I'd seen Monday still wore the same clothes they had on at the time, Ronan in Gideon's jacket—which was wild—and every one of them was disheveled, exhausted.
I noticed a stranger right behind them. A dark-skinned woman with the look of the Hyperions, though I'd never seen her. She had pale green eyes, wild curls, and wore black clothes, not unlike Silver's style. Who was that? Why were my friends, my Kleos, so exhausted? I was thoroughly confused, just like most of the magistrates. Perplexed whispered filled the stands.
"Silence! This magistrate does not suffer unscheduled interruptions," Castor bellowed.
I didn't miss the mirth in his eyes the moment he spotted Kleos. Usually brown, I caught a blue light through his gaze in the distance.
Fuck.
My astonishment gave way to concern again. Whatever Castor and the other freaks had planned, it couldn’t be good.
"Youwillsuffer it in the name of justice," Kleos demanded, her voice as clear as his as it filled the forum.
"You have no power to demand?—"
"Let her speak," her father's tenor commanded.Kleos stared at him as he stood."She's both a witness for Mr. Regis's whereabouts and the supposed victim of Zenya Pendros's crime, two relevant facts that I believe make her interruption valid."
Kleos didn't smile, but she inclined her head towards the man.
Castor seemed inconvenienced, but not overly annoyed. He was too happy to see that this mess had brought Kleos to the Hall of Truce.
My stomach twisted, my happiness at seeing her after so long dampened by the knowledge something was wrong.
Lucky passed her a box, covered by a cloth, that Kleos carefully unveiled.
The entire crowd gasped, me included, at the sight of the golden scale, which seemed to emanate its own light. One that, while bright, did not hurt my eyes.
I couldn't make sense of it, yet at the same time, there was only one logical conclusion.
The insane woman had gone to the Duat for it. Forme.All five of them did. No fucking wonder they were so exhausted.
"I present the scales of Ma'at, goddess of justice, capable of weighing the guilt of any soul." She set them on the floor, and they instantly grew larger, a white feather floating on one side."As the highest authority in this room, I demand that Lucian is judged by the scales, rather than you corrupt, disgusting excuses for politicians."
The assembly screamed their protests as a chuckle crossed my lips.Bloody genius.They might hate it, but there was no way they could refuse.
I loved the Hades out of this woman.
"Silence!" Her father’s voice boomed over the many objections. "The scales will need to be authenticated, but your request is approved. This magistrate is assembled to determine and judge thetruth, not punish people we do not approve of. Sir Daledius, as head of the Archives, you're the best option to assess the veracity of this artifact."
"Of course, of course!"
A little man rushed out of the stands, eagerly joining Kleos, bringing his monocle to his eye several times, letting out gasps and croons, before finally proclaiming, "It is indeed a true Scale of Justice, and only a feather of Ma'at would function like this within it. A true privilege to witness. My dear, however did you get your hands on such a treasure?"
