I shook my head, refusing to accept his judgment. Something wasn’t right; vampires didn’t attack without provocation.
“Now, if there is nothing further, we will adjourn and return with our verdict.” Judge Malika nodded to dismiss Destiny.
My sisters gasped, likely shocked at how quickly Her Honor had wrapped up our case. Well, not if I could help it…
“Wait. Take my testimony.” Perhaps there was something I’d seen to explain David’s aggression. I took a breath and stepped forward, ready to meet Destiny, and knowing I was probably in for a lot of pain. Unlike Taran, I didn’t have protective shields to keep me safe from harm.
Destiny shrugged and cracked her knuckles right before she grabbed my head. Instantly, it felt like she’d replaced the blood to my brain with battery acid. My cries were horrid as every nerve in my body rioted from the scalding torture. Despite all that, and my full-body convulsions, my version of that night’s events popped into my mind and onto the plasma screen.
I watched David crash into Taran’s dresser when she launched her fireball into his chest. He glared at me when I cut off his screams by crushing his throat. Precisely then, I heard Judge Malika’s voice echo in my head. “Stop!” It was as if she’d hit the pause button on a remote. In the frozen image, David’s eyes flashed green—the bright peridot green from a bloodlust infection.
Urgent whispers filled the courtroom as Destiny released me. I crashed to the floor, vomiting. Unlike Taran, I purposely aimed for Destiny’s hideous white platform sandals. All sympathy for that pitiful ensemble was gone, considering the torment she’d subjected me to. To my credit, I didn’t cry, whereas Tim continued to sniffle somewhere behind me.
The room spun. I staggered to my feet. To my right, vampire guards restrained my struggling sisters. Shayna’s breath came fast, and tears streamed down Emme’s face. Taran was all fury. “I’m okay,” I choked. It was a lie. My entire body hurt like I’d taken on a wererhino. But I knew I’d recover.
The guards released my family after a firm nod from Judge Malika. They rushed to me. Emme grabbed me in a tight embrace. Her soft yellow light quickly encased me, instantly extinguishing my remaining pain and nausea. She obstructed part of my view, but I caught Shayna reaching for her toothpicks and converting the minute pieces of wood into long, sharp needles.
Taran clenched her teeth and gathered her fire around her. “I’m sorry, Celia. But don’t worry; we’re getting the hell out of here.”
Except for the judges and Misha, all the courtroom attendants surrounded us. As they closed in, I exposed my fangs and claws and matched the vamps’ hisses with a low, threatening growl.
“The Wird girls are not to be harmed. Return to your pews.” Judge Malika spoke softly, but the authority in her voice silenced the house. Within seconds, the audience resumed their seats as if there had never been a disturbance.
I maintained my defensive posture. “Taran, turn down the power. Shayna, hold your position.” My sisters nodded.
Judge Malika tapped her long nails against the dais. “It appears chronic bloodlust played a hand in the events. Since young David’s fate would have been the same had he stood trial, the charges against the defendants are dismissed.”
Taran glared at her. “Wait just a goddamned minute. You’re letting us go, just like that?”
I glared, too—at Taran. “Zip. It. Now.”
Taran narrowed her eyes. “This is bullshit, Celia. Something’s up.”
“Would you rather stay?” Judge Malika asked in a way that clearly said she’d like us to.
Shayna slipped in front of Taran with her palms up. “It’s cool of you dudes not to eat us and stuff. We just want to know why so we”—she motioned her head back at Taran—“don’t ever end up here again.”
Emme tugged frantically on Shayna’s sleeve. Not me. I was ready to knock them both out and throw them over my shoulders. “Seriously? Can we just get the hell out of here?”
The male judge explained slowly, like nothing as stupid as us could possibly exist. “David was in the beginning phase of chronic bloodlust.”
I frowned, confused. I knew bloodlust occurred when a vamp went too long without a feed, and the freaky green eyes had been a giveaway. It was easily remedied, though, by providing the vamp with a supervised feeding so he or she didn’t completely drain the donor. “What do you mean, chronic? I thought bloodlust resolved itself after the infected vampire is fed.”
Judge Malika responded. “Chronic bloodlust results from a powerful magic wielder’s curse. It makes a vampire’s appetite insatiable. The more he feeds, the more he desires, and the deeper he falls into insanity. He’ll lose his beauty and grow in size and strength from overindulgence. His only focus is to continue to eat at any cost.”