Although Thomas shifted just a few feet away from me, and was growling like there was no tomorrow, I wasn’t feeling as scared as I thought I would be. Having come close to a rape-slash-death experience with the rogues a few weeks ago, I had truly expected, when this whole trial came into perspective, to be more afraid I suffered from enough nightmares to prove the incident wasn’t behind me yet… but then again, I knew no harm would befall me.
That said, I was frozen to the spot in fascination. Blake The Troublemaker was making a show of his obvious superiority. As the five-feet-something brown wolf attacked, teeth bared, seeking blood, he dodged with ease and swiftly kicked him in the gut, earning a surprised yelp. The kick sent the werewolf crashing against a tree which creaked loudly in protest and then broke, making him fall back in an ungracious heap. A low growl was heard as Thomas straightened and then lunched himself again at Blake who, just like the last time, dodged the attack effortlessly and kicked him this time around with enough force to make him spit blood. Before the injured wolf could even get up, another kick landed on his back and a sickening breaking noise reached my ears along with a loud pain-filled scream.
“We can go on but do notice that I’m only using my legs here,” Blake drawled in a tone so blase, it was almost unbelievable in such situations.
What was most fascinating and scary at the same time was that all through the attacks, his hands had never left his pockets, and not one useless movement was made and therefore no energy was wasted. Never mind his special abilities, even where only brute force was concerned, Blake The Troublemaker was a man to be feared.
He was not a thousand-year old vampire for nothing.
“Shift back,” he commanded in a deadly soft tone. The werewolf, despite being in great pain, did not comply. “I won’t repeat myself,” his voice grew noticeably colder at that and a sudden tense atmosphere fell upon the forest.
Jonathan’s arm around my shoulder stiffened ever so slightly and I noticed that everyone’s eyes but my mate’s and the alpha’s and admittedly, my own had dropped to the ground. Kyle’s hand however was clenching so hard, I could see, even from a distance, a few droplets of blood falling. I could only guess then that the famous vampire had let his strength be felt and it was much too overwhelming to be defied. The werewolves had sharper senses and thus the effect on them was more potent. Only the most powerful ones could fight the urge to show submission.
In my fascination with the man’s strength, my natural instincts to run away, screaming bloody murder, were dimmed, and I even lacked the common sense to drop my gaze. What was more aggravating was that I felt the masochistic desire to see his face just then, to get a taste of real power, and thus of real fear.
Boy was I messed up!
I’ve never killed someone just because they’ve disrespected me but I’d still advise you to choose your words wisely. His words echoed in my head and I felt inclined to believe it would be best to keep my sharp tongue under check the next few minutes. Yeah, let’s not disrespect the guy. Better yet, let’s not talk to him at all.
Thomas, on the other hand, stilled completely with what I guessed was fear filling him, before whimpering in surrender and shifting back to his human form, a painful gasp leaving him as he did.
Although I was not familiar with nudity, I somehow did not blush. The lack of reaction from my part had probably something to do with the fact that blood covered some of Thomas’ chest and that his back was at an odd angle. His spine had just been broken and it wasn’t a nice sight to say the least. As a result, he remained on the ground, unspeaking, unmoving and just barely tolerating the pain in silence his face might have shown his discomfort, but his lips were sealed.
“Now, do you mind answering my earlier question?” Blake took two steps back, giving the werewolf some much needed space to gather his wits since, surely, having such an intimidating opponent towering you could only make it harder to speak.
“I,” he gasped in pain as, from the looks of it, even the simple act of speaking hurt, “I killed the guy because… he was in our town… uninvited.”
“The territory thing you werewolves have is only applicable on werewolves as you know,” Blake’s statement kind of surprised me for I actually believed werewolves were entitled to hunt down all supernatural intruders. Just then, I realized that that would go against The Devil’s Pact and thus it could not be so.
“But…” the werewolf with the ragged breathing prepared to argue only to be interrupted.
“If I were to forbid any werewolf or witch from being in the same town as I, that’d be troublesome. I’m a vampire, I move every five or so years,” came the flat-tone explanation.
“I just hate vampires,” the confession did not surprise anyone. Thomas was admitting to having killed the vampire without being under attack or anything. The interrogator had succeeded in making him spill the beans so the execution could only follow soon.
“That, I gathered,” Blake’s humorless chuckle made me wish I could see his expression just then instead of his back. What would greet me, a look of contained fury or two unsettlingly impassible eyes? I could not say for sure, but damn did I wish I could see it for myself!
“I’d like to know why before I kill you though.”
“Two Vampires killed my family eight years ago, where were you then?” Thomas somehow managed to turn the tables on the great Blake, making him the accused instead, despite his current position.
“I was informed a bit too late. The vampires had already left town. It took me almost a week to hunt them down and when I did, I killed them.” Speaking of a kill in such an emotionless voice should be prohibited. It made it almost too simple a thing yet, at the same, it added to the horror that it was.
“So, you say,” came the disbelieving pain-filled snort.
“I wasn’t about to capture them just so I would bring them here to make a public execution. I found them in New Jersey, I killed them there,” I could almost see him rolling his eyes at that moment. Or maybe he’d still wear his unnervingly expressionless face on, and the eye-roll would be executed mentally.
“So, you say, so you say,” It was sad to see a man so consumed with hurt and hatred, he couldn’t even see the truth when it presented itself for Blake was not lying, I was sure of it.
“Jonathan here, your dear alpha-ultra, was with me.” Blake countered with a tilt of the head towards us, “There has to always be at least one representative of each of the species involved in the incident present. Remember the law, the pact.”
“I just didn’t trust you,” the werewolf admitted on a sigh, defeated, sounding unbelieving still.
“I didn’t expect you to, but I thought you’d trust your alpha’s word,” a careless shrug was thrown there, and I could almost feel death looming in the premises.
“I’m not sure things would have been different if I had witnessed their execution anyways,” it seemed that Thomas had less trouble speaking now. His injuries must be starting to heal… only so he could die shortly. How sickly ironic!
“I only wish you would have said the truth when I asked, I could have killed you quickly. Now, I must stay true my word and make your death slow.” It was Blake’s turn to sigh and I suddenly realized he didn’t enjoy his role all that much.
I had never stopped to consider what being both the interrogator and the executioner on such instances could do to a person. The burden this vampire carried was not something just anyone could handle. And it was all for the sake of peace. Any lesser man would have gone nuts or, in more supernatural-appropriate terms, snapped long ago. My inexplicable fascination for this vampire was just then joined by a well-deserved respect.
“Have it your way,” the werewolf, who had been close to snapping at the beginning of the trial, seemed much calmer just then. He had accepted the consequences of his actions and was ready to receive his punishment. And all that was made possible because his interrogator, although by no means obliged, had taken the time to answer his questions. The effect a few words could have on a person was simply amazing.
If only the words hadn’t been too late.
“I will,” was the barely audible response before flames suddenly erupted engulfing Thomas, making him cry out and trash around.
Instead of turning around and walking away from the repulsing scene, Blake remained rooted to his spot. I, on the hand, didn’t have the courage to carry on watching.
Thomas remained a living, struggling torch for about two or three minutes before finally leaving the land of the living while the smell of burnt flesh lingered. Death by incineration was rumored to be the less enjoyable since, when compared to being beheaded or having one’s heart ripped out which only lasted a few seconds, it lasted far too long.
By the time I could no longer hear any painful groans and the eerie stillness of death settled on the forest, I had grown impossibly lightheaded. My sight was no longer focused, and I had lost the ability to feel anything but the rather cold air hitting my face. Even my mind seemed affected by the whole ordeal and was but a jumbled mess.
When my senses finally decided to work properly again, I was being shaken vigorously by Jonathan. His electric blue eyes were really worried, and he was saying something which my brain processed a few seconds later, “Hey, Jas, are you okay?”
He repeated the question at least four times before I managed to croak out a small “I’m fine” while softly caressing his cheek in reassurance. Just as I said that, all the stiffness I had been enduring loosened and I felt my energy drain out of me.
I wasn’t too fond of showing any sign of weakness, but it was my first time being at such a trial. I should be cut some slack for passing out.