Page 85 of Hex
Thirteen sets of eyes—okay, twelve sets, and one singular one from a creature made of stone and moss—turn to face me, some holding amusement in them, others with a very obvious disdain. It’s difficult to read any of their auras, to try and get a feel for where they’re likely to lay their loyalties, so I’m completely in the dark here.
Surprisingly, I’m not chained up, my magic hasn’t been bound, so that is probably why I’m feeling bold right now.
“You are an insolent fool. Your time means nothing to us. Stay the fuck there and shut the fuck up.” If he wasn’t being such an ass, I’d have said the dark-haired man—or whatever he is—was good looking. He has wide shoulders beneath his purple cloak and a chiseled jaw, nothing to give away what kind of kyn he could be.
“Lyka, don’t be a dick. She’s new to this world.” I’m surprised that it’s the half-snake woman sticking up for me. The sight of her makes me remember back to the day this all began. The lamia who were there that day…the lamia that killed Trina.
I try not to sneer at her when she turns to look at me.
“Ignore the Were, Sage. He’s always grumpy.” Flipping her hair, she gives her attention back to Jacked-Santa. I notice her ears are pointed and the rainbow ombre effect of her skin is highlighted by the light.
Stepping forward, I try to get a better look at them all, but a sharp glare and a hand wave from Jacked-Santa have me stuck in place.
“What did you do?” I can still talk, thank fuck, but my body won’t move. Like it’s frozen in time. I don’t like it. It instantly makes me feel helpless.
“We do not allow kyn into our chambers lightly. It is rarer than you would think that we convene for a judgement like this. We will discuss your crimes, you will listen, then we will judge, and you will accept.” He doesn’t ask if that’s okay, or if I understand, he just leaves it there as though I don’t exist.
“Dei Reilly, welcome to your first judgement. Would you like to speak first?”
I guess he is Rafi’s replacement—I did wonder why all thirteen seats had been filled.
“Thank you, Grandei Atlantis.”
Holy shit, Jacked Santa is my dad? The one who would have executed me before I was even born if he had known about me, because I’m a mixture of kyn, something he sees as an abomination—according to Hekate.
I can’t say that I fully agree with her, though. I imagine there’d be a lot more disdain thrown my way if it were true. But what do I know?
The orange djinn—because I can recognize a djinn now—who looks a lot like Rafi did, steeples his fingers and rests his elbows on the round table in front of him.
“My brother, Rafi, was killed in cold blood by the mongrel in the corner. I think that’s all there is to it, really. She shouldn’t exist. I vote to execute.” He’s not mincing his words, is he?
Bastard.
“You cannot execute a goddess, Reilly, it is near-impossible. I vote for magical stasis.”
My eyes widen at my mother’s words. Like…really?
Panic is beginning to creep its way back in and not being able to move a muscle is making this incredibly difficult to handle.
“You’re her mother, Hekate. What the fuck?” Desdemon speaks up, slamming his palms down on the table.
“She killed a Dei, Desdemon. It is our law. Punishment is warranted.” She’s not looking at me, avoiding catching my eye at all cost.
I’m so confused. I thought I could trust her. Am I being screwed over by yet another mother?
“And what of the punishment for Rafi? He held my sister prisoner for months. He had her raped and tortured, all to try and break her mind so her visions would benefit him. Then, he kidnapped two of the demon Liege because they discovered what he was doing. And he would have killed Sage had she not protected herself. Rafi got what he deserved.” He huffs, his back straight as he sits tall in his chair.
“Rafi was weak.” The snake-woman is, surprisingly, on my side? Maybe…
“Yes. Dei Regina is right. Rafi was weak.” The troll-like creature with one eye nods his head, dirt falling to the floor around him with every movement.
“Several of our laws have been broken, beginning with what Rafi did to Princess Danika. She is the heir to the Velmorethrone and should have been treated as such.” The cutest being in this whole room turns to me, her almost-transparent pink wings glittering behind her. Something about her features is familiar…the way her baby-pink hair falls over her shoulder, and then she winks and it hits me.
She has to be related to Saffron.
Oh, goddess…I hope she doesn’t hold that against me. If she even knows?
“I really couldn’t give any shits. Rafi was an asshole. Good riddance.” The blue man looks younger than the rest of them, his metallic-blue hair in loose waves flopping around his head.
