So your defense is that youd have done the same thing to a human. Which would almost certainly have killed him.
I Kyle clearly didnt know what to say to that. I just mean we didnt know he was one of you.
Weak, Oliver said. And the vampire you did manage to kill, do you claim to not know what he was? Because I think you recognize him very well, since his name appears on the bracelet you wear around your wrist.
Claire took in a slow breath. Kyle had killed his own Protector. She didnt know if there was a law for that, but if there was, the punishment wasnt going to be anything less than gruesome.
Kyle shut up. He looked so pale he might have been a vamp himself.
Well? Oliver snapped. Yes or no, did you recognize your Protector before you beheaded him?
I . . . The lights . . . I dont . . . No, I didnt know who it was; I just knew it was a vamp coming after my friends. He gulped. His voice sounded faint and rusty. Im sorry.
Well, Oliver whispered. I suppose that excuses everything, doesnt it? He was seven hundred and sixty years old. But youre sorry. Oliver shoved his chair back from the table as he stood up, so hard it tipped over and crashed against the floor with a bang. This is what being soft with the humans gets us, Amelie. You already know my vote. Guilty. Im done with this nonsense.
And what about Claire? Amelie asked quietly. Shes charged with a similar offense.
Oliver was heading for the door, but he hesitated, just a brief step. He didnt look back. Guilty, he said. She should have left it to us to police our own. Id be hypocritical if I said anything different, wouldnt I?
The security guard let him out, closed the door behind him, and took up that waiting, alert pose again.
Claire was having trouble breathing. Guilty. Shed been defending herself. Defending her friends. And Oliver knew that, and hed still voted against her.
Mayor Morrell, Amelie said. Your vote on Mr. Nemeck.
Richard rose slowly, put his hands flat on the table, and looked at Kyle as he said, Guilty. Im sorry, Kyle, but you left me no choice.
Chief Moses?
Hannah got up, too. She looked as focused and cold as Amelie. Kyle, she said. One question first. Do you swear you really didnt know who you were killing?
Yeah, I swear!
Even Claire could tell that he was lying. Hed known. Hed thought he could get away with it in all the confusion.
Hannah shook her head. Guilty as hell, I hate to say.
Amelie hesitated, then rose smoothly to her feet. By unanimous verdict, Kyle Nemeck, you are found guilty of the highest crime of Morganville: the murder of your own Protector. I had sworn that the more barbaric punishments we once practiced would be outlawed, for the sake of harmony with humans, but I see no alternative than to punish you as harshly as you deserve. You will be placed in a cage in the middle of Founders Square for ten days and nights, so that all may come and read an account of your crime. After that, you will die in the traditional way. By fire.
No! Kyle screamed, and threw himself out of his chair, stumbling around in his hobbling chains. No, you cant do this to me! You cant! No!
Claire stood up. She wasnt shackled; maybe that was a sign they respected her more, or just werent afraid of her at all. She didnt know. But she looked directly at Amelie and said, Dont do this. Please dont do this.
Hes guilty of the worst crime that may be committed, short of attempting to kill me, Amelie said, and Claire had the feeling she was no longer talking to the sometimes-almost-kind person Amelie could become. She was talking to the Founder, or to the long-ago royal princess Amelie had once been. There are times one cannot afford mercy without showing weakness. Weakness invites worse outrages. She nodded to her guards. Remove him to the cage.
Claire opened her mouth to protest again, but she saw both Richard and Hannah sending her warning looks. Hannah actually made a sit down gesture and mouthed, Dont be stupid.
Claire slowly sank into her chair as Kyle was dragged out of the room. She felt sick and angry, but mostly, she was scared. While the guards were busy, she could have made a run for it, found Shane, done . . . what? Tried to get out of Morganville? She knew better than to even try it. Security was tight, and getting tighter.
Amelie was still watching her, and anyway, Amelie could catch her before she got within touching distance of the door.
Now to you, Amelie said, as Kyle and the security detail disappeared down the hall, and his screaming was muffled by distance. Another security guard, this one female but dressed in the same black suit and sunglasses, stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.
It seemed very, very quiet.
The Founder sighed and sat back in her chair, and it seemed to Claire as if she became a different person. One who was irritated and unhappy and sad. Hannah and Richard sat down, too. After a moment, Amelie continued. Claire, this is a very unfortunate situation. You know that, dont you?
Claire nodded, thinking, Its really damn unfortunate for me. But she didnt say it.
Having just harshly sentenced Kyle, I can now afford to show leniency toward you. There are mitigating factorsyou were definitely acting in defense of your own life, and all of the witness statements support it. The vampire you staked was known to be extraordinarily violent, and we have been considering for some time what to do to restrain her appetites; you have removed this problem for me, and although I cant be seen to celebrate this, I must acknowledge that you did me a service in this matter. Again.
Amelies long white fingers tapped the table in a little dry clicking rhythm, and her eyes went half-closed as she stared at Claire. Finally, she looked to Richard Morrell. What say you?
She acted in self-defense. Its unusual, but there are plenty of precedentsI did it myself once, and you found that what I did was justified. I dont support any kind of punishment for her.
Amelie looked at him for several long beats after hed finished, and neither of them blinked. She turned her attention to Hannah. And you?
Not guilty, Hannah said. You changed the rules in Morganville. You gave humans rights to defend themselves, even if it cost vampire lives. Claire was within the law to do what she did, and she saved her own life and the lives of at least some of the people in that room.
Amelie closed her eyes for a moment, and said, Id have preferred you to use nonlethal methods in your heroic defense, but I cannot deny that there is right on your side. On mine, there is only tradition, but tradition is a very powerful force to vampires. It will be quite difficult to convince them that you shouldnt join young Kyle in the cage. Oliver already cast his vote. I will be obliged to overrule him.
Claire knew, without Amelie saying so, that overruling Oliver in his angry mood would be hard, if not impossible. Amelie and Oliver had struggled for control of Morganville in the past, and even though they had developed a kind of respect, that didnt mean they couldnt fight. Viciously, if necessary.
Amelie opened her eyes and said, As the Founder of Morganville, I rule that Claire Danvers is innocent of the crime of deliberate murder. However, she is not innocent of all charges. Claire, I give you two alternatives. First, you will be given into Myrnins charge until you complete the repairs for which he requires your assistance. During this time, you cannot leave his lab, nor see your friends or family, nor rest until the repairs are completed to Myrnins satisfaction. I will not deny you food and water, however.
Claire swallowed. Whats the second alternative?
You can choose someone to suffer punishment in Founders Square in your place, Amelie said. One of your friends, or your family. It will not be the punishment Kyle faces, but it will be severe, and it will be public.
If a vampire said it was severe, then it was nothing Claire even wanted to think about. And choosing one of her friends? Her mom or her dad? She couldnt do that. She could never do that.
Think carefully, Amelie said softly. The first alternative may sound reasonable, but there will be no sleep, no rest, no contact until you have finished your work. It may well be a death sentence on its own, if the problem is as complex as Myrnin tells me. Youll find that such a sentence is brutal in itself.
At least its my risk to take, Claire said. Ill do it.
Hannah sighed and looked grim, and Richard shook his head. For the record, I lodge an objection to this, he said. She isnt guilty. Youre bending the laws to benefit vampires.
Amelie raised her pale eyebrows. Of course I am, she said. Morganville is still my town, Richard. Youd do well to remember that.
Then why have us sitting here? Just to make it look legitimate? Richard shoved his chair back. The kids not guilty. And youre manipulating things to get what you want.
Amelie didnt bother to reply this time. She looked at the security guard instead. I believe Mayor Morrell and Chief Moses are finished, she said. Please see them out.
The vampire woman nodded, opened the door, and gestured for the two humans to proceed. Hannah looked like she might protest, but it was Claires turn to shake her head. Dont, she mouthed. Im okay.
No, youre not, Hannah muttered, but Richard put a hand on her shoulder, and they left the room together.
That left Claire and Amelie. No guards. No witnesses.
You knew I wouldnt let anybody else take my place, Claire said. Whyd you even ask?
Because if I had not, Oliver would demand that I did so, Amelie said. I asked, you chose; there is not much room for him to disagree with the outcome.
This is bad for you, isnt it?
Amelie looked down at her clasped hands. It is not the best situation I can imagine. Oliver has been increasingly unhappy with the attitude of the younger humans, and the liberties theyre taking. I cant blame him; I am less than happy myself. This incident . . . We cannot allow humans to roam in packs like animals, victimize our people, and commit cold-blooded murder. It would destroy us. Measures must be taken.
Why not? You allow vampires to do it!
It isnt the same.
But you promised that things would change! You promised at Sams funeral!
Amelie looked up sharply and said, Mind your place, Claire. I know what I said. And I know what Sam would have said, were he here. He would agree with me, though it would pain him. You hardly knew him at all. Dont presume to lecture me on the rights of humans, or my responsibilities.
There was a restless fire in her eyes, something that made Claire shiver, and she couldnt help but look away. You said I could stop to eat, she said. Can I go home for that?
Myrnin will provide you with meals. I will guarantee it.
What . . . what do I tell everybody? Shane, Michael, Eve, my parents?
Nothing, Amelie said. Because you will not speak to them at all. You leave this room and go directly to Myrnins lab, and you begin your work. I will speak with those who need to know of your choice.
Thats cruel.
Its merciful, Amelie said. I am sparing you good-byes to those whose tears will cause you pain. She hesitated, then said very quietly, And if you fail me in this, Claire . . . then you will never see them again. That is my wish.
But Claire couldnt seem to find the words, and then they came in a rush of clarity. You mean if I dont fix the machine, youll kill me?
Amelie didnt answer. She looked into the distance, her face a blank mask, and Claire felt sickeningly sure that she had it right: Amelie expected results, or else.
The female vamp guard came back, and Amelie pointed to Claire. Take her to Myrnin, she said. No stops. She speaks to no one. I will tell Myrnin what must be done.
The guard nodded and gestured to Claire, who suddenly didnt want to get out of the chair, uncomfortable though it was; she was scared, and cold, and she wanted to go home. She asked, Amelie? What if I cant? What if I cant fix it? Because that was, after all, a very real possibility.
Amelie was silent for a moment, then rose from her chair and looked down at her from what seemed like a million miles away. You must fix it. The consequences of this town remaining unprotected are too severe. This is the only chance I can offer you, Claire. Prove yourself worthy, and live. Fail, and you will wish youd taken the second option I offered, harsh and unforgiving as it was.
Amelie swept out of the room, head high, not looking back. Claire slowly got up, tested her trembling legs, and walked over to the waiting guard.
Whats your name? Claire asked.
As far as youre concerned, I dont have one, the vamp said. Move.
Shed never thought of Myrnins lab as a prison before. The unnamed vampire guardClaire decided to call her Charlotte, at least in her own mindescorted Claire to the underground parking lot beneath the council building, loaded her into a standard blacked-out vampire sedan, and drove her without making any further conversation. They got out at the entrance of the alley next to the Day House. It was dark, all the lights off. Overhead, the moon was setting, abandoning everything to the night.
The fence closed in on either side, narrowing and narrowing, until it ended at the run-down wooden shack that was the entrance to the lab.
Myrnin, wearing a gigantic red velvet hat with feathers, and some kind of long cloak, was standing outside the door, waiting. He nodded to Charlotte, took Claires arm, and, without a word exchanged, hustled her inside. He padlocked the door from within, and then escorted hermore like dragged herdown the steps into the lab proper.
He stripped off the hat and cloak, dumped them on a medieval-looking chair, and turned to look at her with his hands in fists on his hips.
He was wearing a clean white shirt, a shiny blue vest, and black pants. Even his shoes looked normal, if a little pointy at the toes. His hair was clean and curling around his shoulders, and his expression was very, very sober.