A Cold Day in Hell (The Hellcat Series) (35 page)

CHAPTER 19

The atmosphere in the Princeps' Hall tonight was vastly different to their two previous visits.  Every one of Julius's entourage was required to be in attendance for the verdict, though only she and Julius stood before the Princeps' table.  Except for Razor, who sat quietly next to her left foot, the rest were aligned along one wall.  A huge complement of Vampire and Werewolf guards surrounded the group. 
Watchful and predatory.  The tension in the room was as thick as bog mud, and the scent of Werewolf was strong enough to sting the nostrils. 

Gabi made a conscious effort to slow her breathing and did a final scan of the room, feigning boredom as they waited for the Princeps to make their appearance, but her eyes missed nothing.  She was replaying the carefully orchestrated escape plan over in her mind, fine-tuning details now that she knew how many guards they had to overcome.  Julius touched her mind, telling her to be calm.  Yes, yes, she knew that was a last resort, but one thing she'd learned fairly recently was that being prepared could swing a fight in your favour. 

The element of surprise was always a crowd favourite, and they had both surprise and planning on their side.  The fact that they were heavily outnumbered wasn't the huge negative it first appeared when you took in account Julius's strength and ability to control Vampires, and Gabi and Caspian's ability to control Werewolves.  The trick was getting out of the castle without an entire army on their tails.  There was no sign of Gemini yet, and Gabi hoped they were still chasing down Mariska, as their presence might complicate the escape plan.

Gabi's reverie was broken by the opening of the door behind the table.  Once the guards were in place, the Princeps filed in
in the same order as before, only this time there was no chatting or camaraderie among them.  They were silent, their mood sombre.  Helene took her seat a little slower than the others.  She was wearing a cloak, a fashionable one, probably bearing a top notch design label, but it concealed her hands and arms. 

Gabi had been surprised to learn that not even a Vampire as old and powerful as Helene would be able to completely heal the kind of damage she'd sustained in the few hours since the ambush.  She had to keep evidence of the fight covered up.  Helene made
herself comfortable but kept her arms concealed under the cloak.  Then she looked up and stared straight at Gabi.  Pure venom and hatred speared from her gaze.  Gabi glared back, undaunted, and Razor gave a low, almost inaudible growl.

Oleksandra finally broke the silence, clearing her throat before speaking.  "Before we proceed with our agenda for tonight, I would first like to extend our thanks to some of your retinue, Julius," she said.  "It has come to our attention that the Dark Magus, Mariska, called forth Demons into our sanctuary during the daylight hours, and they were only contained by the quick actions of members of your group." 

Julius's expression was rigid.  "Perhaps the Princeps now understand the threat this particular Magus poses to our secrecy and security."

Many eyes flicked to Gabi, who still wore her injured arm in a sling, more for effect than for any other reason. 

"Yes, Master Julius," Oleksandra agreed.  "We are disappointed that the Magus managed to escape the castle today.  We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to apprehend her and deal with her appropriately when we do."

"We apologise for any injury your people may have suffered in the fight."  Helene spoke up, sugary sweetness cascading from her voice, while her eyes glittered, hard as diamonds.  "Please be assured that we have medical staff
who can help in any way you need." 

Gabi couldn't believe the gall of the woman.  She only just caught the growl of outrage before it bubbled out of her mouth. 

"Steady," Julius whispered in her head. 

"That will not be necessary," he said aloud, not bothering to thank Helene for the offer. 

"Yes, yes," Klara broke in, "their actions today do not negate the reason for our meeting tonight.  We should proceed with the vote." 

In a hurry to hang them, Gabi thought darkly, perhaps they had a game of bingo planned afterwards.  She dragged her attention back to the table as Cassandra stood.  She was as pale and thin as ever, and her expression seemed even sadder than normal.  Perhaps she expected to have to use her talent tonight. 

"You’ve had your chance to speak in front of us.  We have all put significant thought and consideration into what you’ve said," she declared, indicating the whole table with one of her delicate hands.  "Tonight we will vote on this matter."  She looked to each of the Princeps, and each of them nodded their affirmation. 

Gabi realised that she hadn't actually asked how they would go about their voting procedure.  All she knew was that the outcome would be decided in front of the accused. 

"We will vote for not guilty with a show of a white ball, and for guilty with a show of red."  Cassandra was addressing the Princeps now, and they nodded. 

Gabi blew a sharp, little breath out of her mouth as anxiety squeezed her chest and adrenalin flooded her veins.  This was their biggest gamble of the trip.  If they'd misjudged the way the Princeps would vote, or if they’d misinterpreted the obscure rule Caspian had found in the Princeps scrolls, there was no chance of getting out of the castle on peaceful terms. 

"We are all prepared?" Cassandra asked, looking around.  Each of those at the table nodded solemnly.  Cassandra sat, and each of them put a hand on the marble table in front of them, something small concealed in each one.  Helene made sure to keep the cloak covering her hand as she emulated the others. 

Gabi took the time to study each face as they looked at her and Julius, their decisions made. 

Benedict wasn't wearing his usual expression of bored nonchalance; he actually looked a little worried.  Fianna looked even more fierce than usual.  She gave Gabi an almost imperceptible nod.  Thibault's expression was unreadable, frustrating Gabi, as his vote could well be the most crucial.  Helene's poisonous glare hadn't changed, except to get haughtier.  She was supremely confident that there was nothing they could do about her treasonous actions.  Oleksandra looked a little tired, as though the events were wearing on her.  Klara looked satisfied about something, and Eliasz's expression was bland, as though he'd already distanced himself from the whole affair.  Santiago still wore his smarmy, taunting smile, openly daring her to say something about his…pets. 

Cold fury burned in the pit of her stomach as she stared into his eyes. 
His beautiful, sea-blue eyes, in a face of exquisite, male virility.  Gabi wanted to claw that angelic face, wanted to make it as ugly as the rotten soul that lived beneath its perfect mask.  It took true strength to pull her gaze from his, to finish her assessment of the Princeps before the final act of voting. 

Akshita's face was set and determined.  It was obvious that she hadn't changed her stance on the matter.  The last two at the table, Lennert and Faruq, were unknown quantities, and Gabi could tell nothing from their expressions.  They were closed, unemotional,
unreadable.  Damn.

"Now," Cassandra said clearly, and the Princeps simultaneously opened their hands. 

Gabi saw then that what she'd thought was simply ornate etching in the top of the marble table was actually twelve shallow ruts, each one beginning in front of a Princep, running a meandering course across the table, and ending in a deeper groove on the other side, directly in front of Gabi and Julius.  Twelve solid balls, each a little bigger than a marble, began the journey towards their final destination.  The room was absolutely silent except for the sound of the balls as they rolled.  Gabi stopped breathing as she quickly took stock.  If there were more than six red balls…she tensed, ready to spring into action.  But then froze.

Six.
  She counted again, but Julius's lack of reaction was enough to confirm her initial count.  The balls came to rest in front of them.  Six red, six white.  A tie. Stalemate.

Not what they’d hoped for, but good enough. 

"We have a tied vote," Cassandra declared unnecessarily. 

Some of the Princeps stirred restlessly.  Klara seemed particularly put out; she was glaring at Thibault.  Eliasz looked surprised, Helene furious, and Benedict was once again sporting his self-deprecating grin. 

"In the case of a tie," Cassandra explained to Julius and Gabi, "one
Princep gets a second vote as a tie-breaker.  The one with the second vote is chosen at random by blind selection of a marked voting ball."  This Gabi already knew.

"If I may," Julius said before Cassandra could leave the table to retrieve the voting balls.  "We have something we would like to add to proceedings before the tie-breaker is chosen."

"I'm afraid that your time for speaking is over."  Klara spoke sharply.  "The hearing last night was your opportunity to say whatever you wanted to.  Our rules clearly state that the accused do not get to speak further in their defence after that hearing." 

A ripple went through the seated Vampires, some nodding, some beginning to speak.

"I believe there is a rule in place that comes into effect in the case of a tied vote," Julius announced, very clearly. 

"It is in section thirty-nine of the scrolls of law."  Caspian spoke up from the sidelines. 
"Clause 'm', subsection iii."

"This is outrageous," Klara fumed.  "We do not acknowledge this desperate attempt to avoid a Princeps vote."

"Hold on, Klara," Fianna said firmly.  "We are supposed to be a fair council.  I'm sure there is someone who can verify the truth of their claims."

"What difference can it make now?"  Helene broke in.  "We've heard everything.  Nothing they say can change the fact that we've voted, and only one can make the final decision."

"Well, actually," Oleksandra began, "I know that clause.  Though rarely used throughout the existence of the Princeps' council, it does in fact exist, and it does apply to the current situation." 

"What do you mean, Oleksandra?  What is this clause you speak of?" Faruq asked.

"This clause states that in the case of a tied vote, if the accused feels there is something important enough that they have failed to reveal before the vote, they may speak one more time before the tie-breaker," she said slowly.  "If any Princep, after hearing the new evidence, feels strongly enough to change their vote, they may do so, thereby eliminating the need for a tie-breaker vote."

"What?" Klara demanded.  "We have had tied votes before, but I've never heard of this." 

Oleksandra shrugged her elegant shoulders.  "Others perhaps are not so well read as this group here," she suggested.  "Or they’ve had nothing to add." 

Gabi knew crunch time was coming.  The clause actually only applied to evidence in the case against them.  What they were about to say had very little to do with the Clan harbouring a danger to Vampire-kind.  They were counting on none of the other Princeps knowing that, but they couldn't be sure. 

"Speak, Master Julius," Fianna said then.  "What do you have to add to the case against you?"

Julius waited for quiet, which took several seconds.

"I maintain that one of the Princeps is biased against us and, having broken the decree of
incolumitas
, should not have the right to vote."

The room went absolutely still.  Gabi was watching Helene's face and saw the panic as she realised what they were about to say.  Then she caught Gabi watching her, and her eyes narrowed, cunning and arrogance replacing the fear. 

The table erupted, many of the Princeps on their feet, arguing, pointing fingers, calling questions to Gabi and Julius.

"Enough," Benedict's voice broke over them all, the force of his power washing through the room like a tsunami. 

Gabi gasped, struggling to stay on her feet.  Julius caught her around the waist and held on until the power-storm subsided.  Most of the Princeps were looking at Benedict in horror, as though they'd never seen him before.  Oleksandra and Fianna were the only exceptions.  Gabi guessed the rest had had little idea how powerful he truly was. 

"We will hear what Julius has to say," he said in a deadly voice.  "Let us present ourselves with some level of decorum." 

They nodded like scolded school children, some straightening their clothes or patting down their hair.

"I object," Helene declared loudly before Julius could speak.  "I do not see how hearing this now can be allowed to affect the vote.  Who is in control of this vote, them or us?"

"Speak, Master Julius," Fianna said, ignoring Helene.  Helene opened her mouth to continue her tirade, but Fianna cut her off.  "Shut it, Helene, or I shall give Julius leave to use his power to keep you quiet." 

Helene gawped at the Irish Vampire like a gasping fish for a moment before subsiding sullenly.

"One at your table has tried three times to assassinate my consort.  Two of those attempts were made in the last two days, while we were under your protection," Julius said. 

Several sets of eyebrows rose across the table, and some began looking at each other suspiciously. 

Julius reached for Gabi's arm and gently peeled back the sleeve of her jacket to reveal the six-inch-long gash across her forearm.  "This wound was inflicted by a Princep determined to kill Gabrielle while the Demons kept the rest of the castle otherwise occupied."