Aris Rising: The Court of Vampires: AN INFINITY DIARIES NOVEL (26 page)

“What we ask of all our citizens. Adherence to the law.”

“I care not for the law. I care for justice. This Immortal has
suffered isolation and neglect. Can you not see that his debt is paid?”

“That will be decided in Chambers, your Majesty. We have heard your testimony. We will now hear his.”

Exasperated by their attitude, Akira swept from the room leaving Aris to plead his case to his accusers. King Khansu and Sebastian had already given their testimony. One to exterminate Aris and one in favor of his acquittal.

The King held no favorites. He wanted Aris destroyed for his flagrant breaking of the Great Law. Taking life for revenge was the ultimate crime and not only had he done it, he had done it twice, killing both Cardinal Wolsey and Queen Katherine. Through lies and subterfuge, Anne Boleyn used his loss of Elizabeth Wyatt to manipulate his grief. Yet, he knew better. He knew the penalty.

The first time he was tried for the death of Wolsey, he was released. The second trial for the death of the shunned Queen Katherine, he was sentenced to death. Only the fearlessness of Sebastian had saved his essence from total extermination after his second sentence. The King wanted to rid the Immortals of Aris after his first transgression. He was even more determined after the second. Yet Aris escaped into the netherworld where he floated for five hundred years. It was a personal affront to King Khansu. He was determined to end the existence of Aris once and for all. He was eloquent in his testimony for the death penalty.

When it was his time to approach the Council, Sebastian stood for Aris telling of his great ability as a warrior, a leader of armies. He warned them of the Spanish coven and what would happen if they were to attack the Catacombs. He appealed to the members combined conscience as leaders of their people. Aris was an Immortal desperately needed for his experience and leadership if they were to win what must be the forthcoming battle and maintain their kingdom. He spoke only the truth.

Then, it was his time. Aris stepped before the Council. He stood quietly, his hands folded in front of him, his head bowed. When at last he spoke, it was with a confidence he did not feel. He knew the power of the King to influence the Council. He knew his own testimony was the only one that could save him. He measured his words carefully.

“I stand before you a contrite Immortal. In my folly I listened to an evil woman and broke the law of the Catacombs. Anne Boleyn used me as a weapon to murder her enemies. I killed. Twice. I was used as a pawn in a murder scheme by a woman without conscience. She manipulated my deep personal loss to incite me to murder. I lost my only love and Queen Anne made sure she turned the knife in my wound until I readily did her bidding, doing away with her rival as well as a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.

“I admit to my crime. I deserve to be eliminated from the coven, yet I beg you to forgive me, to allow me to continue. I was driven by loss and despair. The loss of my soul mate took my mind along with her. I must be honest. I am not remorseful, but I am repentant. This is my home. You are my people. I have searched for my beloved through time and space for all these past centuries, driven by eternal love. I have tried to help others during the last centuries. I am not the man you knew so long ago. I have found my love at last. I beg of you, do not take me from her. Allow us this time to be together.”

Touched by what he heard, Bartholomew spoke softly. “Is this beloved female a human?”

“Yes, she is human. She was human when I found her five hundred years ago here in England and she is human today, reincarnated in a body living in America.”

Bartholomew stood, leaning his hands on the smooth wood of the table. “And so what do you wish us to do Aris?”

“If you were to meet my beloved you would then understand why I was mad when I lost her. She is the embodiment of compassion. I
have waited century after century for her and I beg for your mercy. Allow me to continue so that I may love her and protect her.” He dropped to his knees, bowing his head.

Bartholomew crossed to his side. Speaking softly, he touched his shoulder. “Rise, Aris. We will adjourn to deliberate your fate. You spoke well for yourself. Be assured there will be at least one who will vote in your favor.”

#

“At least it is over. There is nothing more to be said or done.” Aris’ voice was calmly resigned as he spoke into the receiver of his cell phone.

“How did you feel about it?” Sarah was anxious. It showed in the way she clipped her words. “I mean, how do you think they’ll

decide?”

“I honestly have no real idea. Sebastian still feels they will vote to free me. He was amazing. If anyone was my champion, it was he. I know he has been speaking to the Council members one by one in the last few weeks, reminding them of the seriousness of the Spanish coven and that I am their only military man. He is very convincing when he wants to be. Akira was on my side, but King Khansu annihilated her testimony that I am a good, solid Immortal with his, ripping me to shreds for defying the law, not once, but twice.

“When I spoke it was only of you. My wish to spend as much time with you as I can. They are in deliberation now. I have no idea how long they will be cloistered.”

“Oh, Aris, I’m worried. How can Sebastian be so sure?”

“He depends on the knowledge of the Council about the Spanish coven. They need me, Sarah. Now do not worry so much. All will be well.” He wished he felt the confidence he heard in his words. Khansu, after all, was the King and the King wanted to be rid of him. How would the Council vote?

T
he two friends sat on Colleen’s patio drinking iced tea. Colette slept in her playpen. Sarah stood to tuck the light pink blanket around the baby’s legs so she wouldn’t get chilled as the late afternoon sun began to sink below the horizon.

“Thanks, hon.” Colleen smiled. “Sometimes I think I’m up and down more than a jack-in-the-box. She can be a handful.” She stared at her baby girl. “My handful. Isn’t she precious? I had no idea the feelings that I would have about my kid.”

“She’s pretty sweet.” Sarah grinned at the changes motherhood had wrought in her friend. “What time is Bob getting home from the station?”

“He’s going out with some of the guys for a beer after work so I don’t know. Want to have dinner here with the girlies?”

“Sounds great.” Sarah gathered the glasses and baby toys, carrying them into the living room.

Colleen cooed at the baby as she brought her inside and settled her in her bassinette by the patio door. The little girl grinned a huge toothless grin at her mother, then grabbed hold of her thumb. “She owns me when she does that.”

“Yep. I can see that.” Sarah laid the toys on the coffee table and
took the glasses to the kitchen. “C, why don’t I just whip up a simple little salad for dinner?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of rabbit food? How about a big, juicy burger? Besides, I haven’t been to the market this week. The pickin’s may be pretty slim.”

“How about I just figure it out?” Sarah pulled a stool out from beneath the tall breakfast counter. She pointed at it. “Sit. I’m fixing a salad. You can watch.”

Sarah opened the refrigerator, pulling out the crisper drawers. A head of lettuce and a couple of carrots were all that could be found. “You don’t have anything to make a salad. What do you feed Bob?”

“Bob’s a guy and he eats guy food, Sarah. Now, how about a burger?”

“Not on your life. What’s in the freezer?” She opened it and looked in. Several burger patties, a couple of packages of frozen vegetables and three frozen pizzas. Reading the label on the pizza, she turned to her friend. “It’s pizza, kid. At least it’s got tomatoes and mushrooms on it. We need to get you to the store.” The oven pre-heated as the two women sat on the sofa watching the baby sleep.

“So, have you heard from Carlos?”

It was even more difficult for Sarah to think of Aris as Carlos now. Since spending so much time alone with him and her friendship with the Immortals from London, he had been Aris to her and Aris alone. It was just her Chicago friends who called him Carlos. Sometimes she had to catch herself not to use his true name when she spoke with them.

“Yes, he called yesterday. Things are going great. He likes the man who owns the London gallery. The owner says he’s had a wonderful response to the advertising campaign. He’s expecting a record crowd. Several London art magazines responded and are
attending. When John Marshal decided to bring Carlos’ bad-boy past out, it was like hanging out a banner. Suddenly, everybody wants to meet him.”

“Yeah, and he’s a damn good artist, too.” The timer on the oven dinged letting the ladies know the oven was ready. Sarah went to the kitchen and popped in the pizza.

“Colleen, where’s a hot pad? You moved them since I cooked here last.”

“In the drawer next to the stove.” The baby started fussing so as Sarah passed by on her way to the sofa, she picked her up, handing her to her mother. She sat next to Colleen.

“Sarah, I’m sort of shocked you aren’t going to London to attend the show. I mean, without you, there wouldn’t be a show. If you hadn’t taken him home to meet your mother and your mother hadn’t introduced him to John Marshal he’d still be working at the market. Anyway, doesn’t he want you to come?”

“Sure. He told me more than once. I just hadn’t planned on taking a vacation right now.”

“And here I thought you were loosening up. Who cares if you were planning a vacation. Get Bonnie to cover your most demanding cases and go for a week. You don’t have to make a life commitment, you know. Just go for the show then come home. I’m sure it would mean a lot to Carlos.”

“Yeah? Well, it would mean a lot to me, too. You know, I think I’ll call Bonnie tomorrow to see if she can cover for me for a week. If she can, maybe I’ll go.”

“Great. I’ll do whatever I can to help. Want to go on-line now and look for flights?”

“Let’s wait until the pizza is done. I’m not sure yet I’ll go, but we can check it out after we eat.”

“If you do, are you going to call him and tell him you’re coming?”

“Nope. It will be a really big surprise for both of us.”

#

It was late and Sarah snuggled in her bed talking on her telephone. The only light in the room was from a candle. The breeze from the open window caused the flame to dance, creating moving shadows on the bedroom walls. “How much longer before you know anything?” Sarah was anxious to know with certainty that Aris was exonerated. She waited more impatiently for the verdict that he did.

“As long as they please. I know there is some contention among them. Some feel as Khansu does that I should be eliminated. The more realistic of the Council know they need me, my expertise. I’ve begun to organize the Immortals into troops. There are almost twenty-five-hundred Immortals who will join in the battle. Those from the Catacombs and those who live a human life above ground. We all fight for our very existence.

“Sarah, this is an undertaking that often feels impossible. Sometimes I feel I know so little about warfare. I am accustomed to being a warrior, not a general. I am accustomed to being commanded, not being a commander. I am so grateful to have Sebastian. He is an organizer beyond belief. Without him, Gabriela and Richard, I would certainly fail.”

“Aris, will you be able to create an army in time to keep the Spanish coven from coming to the Catacombs?”

“There can be no question. The battle must be fought in Spain in the mountains. We cannot allow them to come to London. If they do, there will be a blood bath in the streets above that you cannot even begin to imagine. A few thousand of our kind in battle would be like World War Three to you humans. Sarah, we must protect your kind and keep our species a secret. They must never find out about the Immortals.”

“I know you’re right. I know. I just wish I could be there with
you.”

“My dear, as a human, you could do nothing to help. You would not even be welcome in the Catacombs.”

“But I’d be welcome at your art show, wouldn’t I?”

“To the art show? That is different. You would be more welcome than you can ever know. Is it a possibility?”

“I’ll think about it, Aris. It would be difficult right now.” But not nearly as difficult as it was being away from him. Sarah knew before she hung up the telephone; she was London bound.

#

“Of course I’m happy to help if any of your clients have an emergency, but when did you decide to go to London?” Bonnie wiped the perspiration from her forehead with her towel as she turned up the resistance on the elliptical another notch.

Sarah waited until the young woman at the front desk of the gym was finished announcing a spa special over the speaker system before she answered. “Last night. I’ve been thinking about it all week but I just decided last night. I really want to be there for the opening at the gallery.”

“Are you going to tell him or is it a surprise?”

“It’s going to be a surprise. I’m pretty excited. I haven’t been to London since Jeff and I were on our honeymoon and that was just a whirlwind of one tour after another. This will be a leisurely week and a half.”

“Can’t live without him, can you?”

“Stop it, Bon. I do miss him, but I want to be there to support him as well. He’s doing great and he needs to know how proud we are of him.”