Angelfall: Parts 1 to 5 (18 page)

“You better eat now. You won't get anything again for three days,” said Cyril as he bit the rat he had offered to Victor.

I can't believe I have come to this, thought Victor. He remembered The Day of the Fall, when they fell from heaven and his rude awakening to the vampiric way of life. He had devoured so many rats that day trying to get enough of that coagulate red platelet soup; the soup that he now craved, that he now needed.

“Johnson. You better eat too,” said Cyril as he took two rats from the metal box and walked over to Johnson.

Johnson propped himself on one elbow and took the rats. He bit into it. It gave a shriek and went limp.

As Johnson was about to feed from the second rat, Warden Pitter shouted into the cell area.

“Victor Saul? Victor Saul?”

“Yes,” shouted Victor.

“You have a visitor,” said the Warden as he walked to the cell accompanied by another vampire.

Everyone looked up to see a tall gray-haired handsome vampire dressed in a black cut-to-fit suit, a white shirt, a white-collar that the lawyers in old England wore and a flowing black robe.

He held a soft well oiled black leather attaché case in his right hand.

“Valentino,” said Cyril with a smile. Victor walked to the front of the cell.

Warden Pitter stayed next to the attorney.

“Mr. Saul?” said Valentino.

“Yes sir.”

“Your girlfriend Angela contacted my chambers and retained me to come and see you,” said Valentino.

Victor cracked his first smile since he had been locked up.

“Thank you,” said Victor.

Valentino held up his hand to silence Victor as he shot a stern glance at the Warden Pitter who was still standing over Valentino’s shoulder.

“Warden. Do you mind? I'm trying to speak to my client in private.”

“Now Mr. Miller, you know I have to stay here and watch this meetings.”

“Warden, need I remind you that according to the vampiric code annotated section 53 subsection 4, an attorney and client are privileged to have a private consultation in relation to a criminal case.”

The attorney did not take his eyes off of Warden Pitter.

“Now, now, counsel, all right. I'll be standing right over there watching,” said the warden.

“In fact warden, please take him out of the cell so that we can confer in private in a quiet room.”

“All right counsel, all right,” said the warden as he took the special key out of his side pocket.

“Turnaround at the cell door and put your hands behind you,” said the warden to Victor.

Victor complied and the warden slapped a pair of special chrome enforced handcuffs, which were impenetrable to a vampire's strength, unto Victor.

“Step away from the cell door,” said the warden to Victor.

As the warden opened the cell door, Victor walked out.

The warden escorted him with Valentino close behind. They went down the narrow corridor to a side room dug out in the caves.

“I'll be right out here,” said the warden.

“Please take his cuffs off,” said Valentino.

“Now counsel, I don't think that will be happening,” said the warden.

“But he is entitled to-”

“Counsel. That will not be happening. Period,” said the warden as he brought Victor into the room and sat him down on a chair inside.

Valentino grimaced as he walked inside the room.

“Very well, said Valentino as the warden exited the room.

Warden Pitter stood guard at the door. Valentino closed the door and sat in the other chair.

Mr. Miller, I've never been in trouble-”

Valentino held up his hand to cut him off.

“Please. Let's focus on the problem,” said Valentino.

“What happened?” Valentino asked.

Victor recounted his horrific ordeal in detail. Twenty minutes zoomed by when Victor finally said, “so what happens now?”

The warden popped his head inside the door.

“Counsel, it's almost sunset. Court is about to begin. Please wrap this up,” said the warden.

“Very well,” said Valentino. The warden closed the door.

“Well, that's what happens next. I'll do a bail application in court to try to get you out while the case for treason trudges on. You are facing serious charges. Someone in the restaurant is to blame. The question is who. Of course we will soon find out the identity of the informant once we go to trial,” said Valentino.

“It just had to be Herod,” said Victor. I'm sure it’s him. He was sitting right behind me. That rat.”

“Look. I better get to the courtroom. I'll see you shortly,” said Valentino as popped out of his chair and walked out the door.

“I'm finished,” said Valentino to the warden.

“All right counsel,” said the warden as he opened the door and dragged Victor out by the hands.

Within minutes Warden Pitter led Victor down along winding, dark, descending corridor that emptied into a large chamber in the depths of the mountain cave. Victor winced his eyes in the brightness of the torches that donned the sides of the chamber and the gigantic candle chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.

This chamber courthouse was magnificent to behold. All upper corridors emptied into it. At the front of the courtroom was the judge’s seat embellished in a red velvet cushions. The judge’s bench was made of dark mahogany wood. The witness box was to the left of the judge’s bench and the jury box was to the right.

In front of the judge’s bench was the attorney’s bar benches similar to a relic design from Old England.

Valentino sat at the attorney’s bench conversing with the prosecutor Kirk Madison.

A couple of junior defense attorneys were also sitting at the attorney’s bar.

The prisoner’s dock was located behind the attorney’s bar and the gallery was beyond that point.

Several prisoners from different jails were sitting in the front row of benches behind the dock. Vampirol guarded them.

No spectators were in the gallery. As Warden Pitter escorted Victor to the prisoner’s bench, the judge walked in and stood at his bench.

Everyone stood. The courtroom bailiff spoke. 

“All rise. This Dishonorable Court of the Dishonorable Dark Lord Justice Ronald Morbid now in session. May the Son of The Morning Star protect us and preserve the Kingdom of Darkness. Please be seated.”

Justice Morbid sat down. Everyone waited for the judge to take his seat. They bowed to the judge and sat down.

Justice Morbid was dressed in a long red frock with white trimmings and he wore a powdered wig that reached his shoulders.

In one hand was an embroidered handkerchief that he used to wipe the sweat from his brow.

His vampire teeth were yellow probably from too much talking and his skin was paler than a corpse long dead.

Valentino was the most senior attorney at the attorney’s bench so he went first. He rose to mention his matter.

“May it please you my Dark Lord. Might I mention the matter of The Kingdom of Darkness versus Victor Saul? I believe it appears on your Dark Lordship’s new list.

“I don't see it on my list. What's he charged with?” said the judge.

Valentino sat down deferring to Prosecutor Kirk Madison.

The prosecutor popped up from his seat.

“My Dark Lord, may it so please you. Victor Saul is charged with treason. It appears that Vampirol brought him in this evening. The paperwork was late-

“Fine, just list it already. This isn't rocket science,” said the judge.

“Very well my Dark Lord,” said the prosecutor as the judge handed the bailiff the court list.

Valentino stood up.

“My Dark Lord, Mr. Saul is in custody,” said Valentino as he motioned for Warden Pitter to put Victor in the dock. Victor slowly entered the dock.

“You people are hell-bent on keeping me here all night. But I have news for you, I have a Hawaiian meal waiting for me at Villagio’s and I'm not going to be late,” said the judge. “Let's get on with it Mr. Miller.”

“Very well my Dark Lord,” said Valentino gearing up for his special brand of abracadabra.

“My Dark Lord the defense would like to make an application that Mr. Saul be admitted to bail. Perhaps the Kingdom could recite the allegations for your Dark Lordship.”

“Very well,” said the judge. “Please Mr. Madison state the allegations for the court.”

For the first time, Victor became afraid. His heart sank as the prosecutor began.

“My Dark Lord,” said the prosecutor. “Victor Saul earlier today committed treason of the highest order by stating and I quote, ‘I am used to being a vampire and the earthly thing; it’s great. But I just think the rebellion could have been done successfully. You know. I just think it’s his fault. You know. I was saying it is okay. The truth is the truth. I would have done a better job.’”

Valentino jumped up.

“Lies, all lies. Vicious-”

“Mr. Miller. Get a hold of yourself. What's wrong with you,” said the judge wrapping his gavel until it flew out of his hand.

The prosecutor, who kept on his feet, smirked.

“My Dark Lord-”

“Sit down Mr. Miller,” interrupted the judge. “Sit down.” Valentino took his seat.

The junior attorney sitting next to Valentino leaned over and whispered in his ear.

“Mr. Miller. You're not supposed to do that.”

“Trial tactics, my boy, trial tactics. You have to throw them off at all costs whether you're right or wrong. Remember what you learned in first year at Transylvania School of Law, It’s better to be loud and wrong rather than soft and right,” whispered Valentino. “Watch this.”

The prosecutor continued.

“As I was saying my Dark Lord, The Kingdom of Darkness is objecting to bail-”

“On what basis,” interrupted Valentino without bothering to stand.

“Mr. Miller. I'm warning you. One more outburst from you and you will spend the night with your client. Is that clear?”

Valentino stood up. “It is clear my Dark Lord,” said Valentino. “I apologize to the court.”

Victor managed a slight smile. He had never seen an attorney fight so hard.

The prosecutor smiled as well but his smile was the sheer joy of watching Justice Morbid bludgeon Mr. Miller in court.

“My Dark Lord, based upon the Vampiric Code Annotated Section 10.2 (a), we are objecting to bail based upon the belief that the accused is a flight risk,” said the prosecutor.

Valentino shot a puzzled and annoyed expression at the prosecutor but Valentino dared not make a sound.

“Furthermore,” continued the prosecutor. “Based upon the strength of the allegations in that we have credible evidence from an informant who overheard the said conversation at Villagio's restaurant, and the fact that the accused resisted arrest-”