Dark Calling (43 page)

“I’ve never been to one of these things before.  How does this work?”

Nick shrugs.  “It’s my first as well.”

“
Their
s
too, I’m sure,” Lila says dipping her head at the full room.  People are standing now because there are no chairs left.  Some kids sit on the floor, missing their lunch hour in order to see the Demon Princess. 

“They’re all staring at me,” Keely whispers to Nick.

“Only
because you’
re so b
eautiful,
”
Nick whispers back.  Keely fights the urge to roll her eyes.

“Is that Coach?” Lila asks bewildered.

“Yes,” Keely says.  Her voice catches and she sits back down.  She has no idea what Coach thought of that night.  Could she believe that Keely knew who she was and acted against her?  Does she know what Dustin did?  Maybe she thinks he didn’t know who she was.  Lila and Nic
k didn’t seem to know she was involved with
t
he Hierarchy.  Keely feels dizzy.

A man takes
the fifth and middle chair
.  He confers with the woman beside him for a moment before rising
. 
He’s a middle aged main with thick dark hair.  Though he’s dressed casually in a v-neck tee and jeans, he has a quality, an authority to him. 
He holds up a hand and the room slowly quiets.  “We will begin now.  I ask that all students be respectful and quiet during proceedings.”  He reads over a sheet of paper before continuing.  “First case to be heard is for
Watcher,
Dustin
White.”

“I’m up,” Lila sighs.  She stands and walks briskly to the chair in front of the table.  “My name is Lila Wallace.  I
’m here on behalf of Watcher
White.  He is still in the hospital recovering from his injuries.”

“I’m sorry there must be a mistake,” the man says.  He looks down at his paper again.  Shakes his head.  “Accused must come in person.  We will reschedule until he is in better health.”

“He was injured.  Not accused.”  Lila glanc
es over her shoulder at Nick
then back to the man. 

“Guardian Wallace,
Dustin White has been branded with
treason.”

Lila looks at her dad.  He is shuffling through papers desperately.  “Dustin was captured a
nd tortured trying to save Keely
and her parent
s,” Lila says slowly, an edge of panic in her voice.
 
“
He cannot be held liable for anything he may have said under duress.”

“Guardian Wallace, these all
egations come from a member of t
he Hierarchy.  He will have to come forward and dispute the claim himself.”

“Who is the accuser?”

“I am,” Coach says firmly.  “Mr. White
broke O
ath by helping
Prince Apophis capture Princess Keely.
”

Nick’s hand grips Keely’s so tightly her fingers go numb.  In one silent gesture, he screams a million questions at her. 
Is i
t true?  Why didn’t you tell me?  Did he hurt you
?  What will Lila do?

Keely puts her head down and stares at her hand turning white in Nick’s grasp.  Everyone is staring at her.  Blaming her.  Judging her.

“Because of his actions,
” Coach continues,
“
a search party was dispatched into another realm.  Many lives were endangered.  He was sworn to protect his charge, instead h
e betrayed her.  He dishonored t
he Angel.”

“She’s lying.  He wouldn’t do that,” Lila cries.

“Guardian Wallace, I witnessed it for myself.  He attacked me and knowingly sent the Princess into a building
full
of Demons.  When she looked to him for s
alvation, he denied her and
aid
ed Prince Apophis in taking
her prisoner.  If I need to be more direct, Miss Wallace, your boyfriend held Miss Kiem while Apophis beat her
in
to unconsciousness.”

Nick releases Keely and rests his head in his hands.

“Princess, would you like to give your statement now?  Or would you pref
er to wait to face Mr. White?” t
he man in charge asks Keely.

She looks up
,
stunned.  She hadn’t planned on making a statement at all.  “Do I have too?”

He smiles at her kindly.  “You do not
have to
today.  But yes,
I’m afraid
you will have to either confirm or deny.”

Keely nods.  She would rather get this over with now.  There is no way she wants to do this face to face with Dustin.  She stands shakily and Nick stands with her.

“Miss Wallace, you are dismissed.”

Lila turns slowly and walks through the maze of people.  Her eyes burn with tears.  She stands in front of the door trying to decide whether to stay and hear what Keely has to say, or run.

“Guardian Wallace, Princess,” the man says.  “Please, Princess, sit.”
 
Keely doesn’t so much sit, as she does fall into the chair.  She feels so sick.  And this is probably the easy part of the day.
 
“Do you confirm or deny the allegations against Dustin White?”

She bites her lip until she tastes blood.  Takes a deep breath.  She said she was going to be honest.  If she lies now, when Coach knows the truth, it will only make things worse.  But every part of Keely’s heart is begging her to lie. 
She looks up at Nick.  He nods his head and squeezes her shoulder. 

“
I confirm the allegations.  But
may I say something?”

The man inclines his head, giving her permission. 

“Dustin didn’t have a choice.  Apophis got a hold of Lila and took her to the Demon realm.  Apophis threatened to kill Lila if Dustin didn
’t help him.  It was only because he was scared for Lila
.  Otherwise, Dustin would never have done that.  And I don’t think he knew who you were, Coa
ch.
”

“Princess, whe
n a
child of God’s light takes an O
ath, he is sworn to it.  By betr
aying you, he has betrayed his o
ath, therefore, betraying God.  This offense is very serious.  It does not matter the reason behind it.  Betrayal is betrayal,” the man informs her.

“May I ask why you did not come forward on your own accord?” Coach asks.

“Because I couldn’t say I wouldn’t do the same
thing.  Apophis had my parents
and I went there to save them.  I put everyone in danger too.  Because he had people I loved.
  Because I would do a
nything to get them back.  I do
n’t think he should be held accountable for trying to save Lila.”

“This will weigh heavy on your character,” the principal looking man says.

Keely raises her chin.  “I hope it does.”

“If t
hat’s all you have to say, we’
ll move on.”

“Just one last thing, please.  I know you look at what Dustin did like he did something personally to all of you.  But I was the one he did it to.  And I do
n’t think he should be punished
for it.  If that matters.”

“We’ll take it into consideration,” the man in charge says and smiles kindly at her.

Twenty-Seven
:

Nick is told to
stay where he is.  Keely is asked
to return to her seat.  She wants to hug Nick and wish him luck, but she doesn’t.  She knows it’s better for both of them if she does exactly as she’s been instructed.  No reason to flaunt the
ir relationship in the face of t
he Hierarchy.

Keely turns in time to see Lila walk out the door.  Part of her is relieved she doesn’t have to sit with
her while the other part
wants to apologize.

“Guardian Wallace,
you are branded with hindrance
and amoral consorting.  Do you confirm or deny?”

“I confirm on both grounds,
”
Nick says.

Whispers and gasps roll through the room.  “Students, please be respectful or you will all be asked to go back
to your classes,” a woman from t
he Hierarchy scolds.

“Are you ready to give your statement at this time?”

“Yes, sir, I am.  I will address the brand of hindran
ce first,” Nick says.  “
I took an O
ath
to protect Princess Keely.  My O
ath is my honor.  I take it very seriously.  It is my duty to protect Keely at any cost to myself.  I have sworn to give my life in order to preserve hers.  I am unaware of any clause that states I should not be willing to give my job to defe
nd her.  I would say the order of a man
’s life
is
honoring the Angel
first,
my charge’s life second,
my family, my
own
life
,
and
my job last.  I have not dishonored the Angel
by my actions.  I have insured my charge’s life.  As any Guardian is aware, life d
oesn’t always go by the book, s
o therefore, I cannot always act by the book.  I don’t believe there is any one way to han
dle a situation.  I learned of t
he Demon King’s wish to keep
the Princess alive only the night
before we escorted her to Pandora. 
I was aware she was planning on entering a dangerous situation and decided it took precedence.
I acted upon the needs of my charge.” 

“It sounds nice, Guardian Wallace, but if your charge hadn’t been abducted Friday night, would you have come forward with this information willingly?” Principal asks.

“I planned to seek my father’s council, yes.”

“Do you believe, sitting here before us today, that you made the correct decision?” the pretty woman asks.

“
No I do not.  In trying to protect her, I put the Princess in greater
risk.  I should have sought assistance
from t
he Hierarchy.”

“Often, we learn the hard way,” the man says.

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you have a statement for the brand of amoral consorting?”

Nick clears his throat.  “
Yes.”  He runs a hand through his hair.  Inhales deeply.  “This hasn’t been the typical job by any means.  For a year, I hid who I was from my charge.  I protected her in secret.  Watching someone when they don’t know you’
re watching, you see who they really are.  Not the person they want to show you.  We’re all a little better when we know someone is looking.  But Keely, she’s just Keely.  She is the same person whether she knows you’re looking or not.”

Bryon slides into the seat next to Keely.  He leans in and whispers, “What’ve I missed?”

“
A lot.”  She gives him a look that clearly means she wants him to
shut-up.

“It’s simple.  I fell in love with her,” Nick finishes.

“Relationships between a Guardian and a charge are not common practice,” Principal declares.

“Yes,
but not unlawfu
l.”

“
It is not unlawfu
l.  You’re right.  But do you feel you can make the proper decisions necessary to protect her when you are emotionally invested?” A small man in the last chair asks.

“I believe I will be even more careful in the decisions I make from here on out.”

“Do you think your feelings for the Princess
altered your decision making in the past?  S
uch as your decision to hinder t
he Hierarchy?” Nick’s dad asks.

Nick me
ets his dad’s eyes.  “Yes.
  My O
ath is to protect Keely.  Not to p
rotect her from everything but t
he Hierarchy,” he says firmly.

“Do you feel you a
re perhaps biased due to your feelings?” the man in charge asks.

“Biased how?  I have pledged my life to keep Keely safe.  I will do that.  Perhaps better than I might have before I loved her.”

“But what about future assignments
?” Coach wonders.

“I have not taken an O
ath for any other job
s.”

“Yes, but there will come a time when you will be reassigned to another.  Will you be able to fulfill your duties?” the pretty woman asks.

“My father loves my mother very much, yet he has always fulfilled his obligation to a charge.”

“Yes, but your mother has never been your father’s charge.  She is his equal,” Principal offers.