Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“You must be really tired. I heard the phone ring. Do we need to go down? I can go while you rest—”
“If you think I am letting you go to those fiends alone, you have a lot to learn about me.” He offered me his hand, and I noticed he’d also packed most of our things into black suitcases. He must have called to ask for them because I hadn’t seen them before now. It seemed he was ready to leave as soon as possible.
“I do have a lot to learn about you, regardless.” I took his hand and walked toward the elevator. “Do you know where we’re supposed to go?”
“They said the courtroom,”
“Courtroom?”
“President Swan has decided to hear the case of Jason Silber—right this moment.”
Right after I had subverted his previous “court” case. “This is about me, isn’t it?”
“It’s about us.” The look on his face was severe when he glanced down at me. “I’ve been called to testify on how I know he is consorting with witches. What was done with Lucy was more of gorilla justice or justice by the majority. This will be an actual court decided by however their system works.”
“That means you’ll have to tell him—”
“I will not. The less they are curious about you, the better. From the beginning, the Swan family has been overly involved with you, and I do not know why,” he said as the elevators arrived. He allowed me inside before following. With each passing second we stayed here, I could see him growing tenser, more aggravated, confused even. Everything I had expected when I first met him was now happening. Initially, he had been impossibly calm, carefree almost, with no plans and not much thought other than getting to know me. But ever since I left my apartment that morning, everything had changed.
“I alone accused him, so I alone should be the one they must question.” Theseus squeezed my hand slightly, and I understood what he meant—I shouldn’t get involved.
Nodding, I looked up, watching as we sank lower down the tower. Just when it seemed like it would never reach the bottom, it did. The doors opened to reveal, Charline. Dressed in a tribal shirt and pants, Charline had her short brown hair pulled back, and in her large hands was a bowl of powder, the same red powder that seemed to be smeared over her eyes. Behind her were caves. If anyone had told me we were still in downtown Montréal, I would call them a liar. They were eerie-looking like something a human might write in fiction. Bats, there were hundreds of bats, hanging from the top, sleeping. And with the exception of the elevator, there was no light, no fires to guide anyone’s way, just darkness that went on and on. There was a way out. It was straight, but it was far. I could hear birds deep in that distance.
“Theseus, Druella,” she said, looking to both of us and speaking with a harshness that was a complete one-eighty from the woman who stood by watching Lucy and I shop. “You must remove your shoes. The path to the court is sacred ground,”
It was only then that I notice she was also barefoot, the bottoms of which were painted in the same red.
“I remember this,” Theseus said quietly, taking off his shoes and socks and tossing them behind us into the elevator. “It was a tradition of King Desagondensta’s tribe when I first visited him, and then he had us do the same.”
I wished I had known that before I put on the damn boots. I removed them and my socks, watching as Charline placed the bowl in front of his feet. He put his right foot in first, making sure they covered before putting in his left. When he was done, he lifted the bowl, only to set in front of my feet. Not saying anything, I lifted my right leg, but he shook his head.
“Women lead with the left foot first.”
“Why?”
“Tradition,” Charline answered, and Theseus moved his head in agreement. At least they were on the same page.
Doing as they instructed, I dipped my left foot in before my right, leaving my brown feet covered in the colored powder.
“Now, pick up the bowl and return it to her,” Theseus instructed, which I did.
“Follow me. Theseus, if you wish to explain you may, but you won’t be able to speak without a turn at court,” Charline said, already beginning to walk away.
My head immediately turned to Theseus, waiting for an explanation as to why we were walking under bats, in a dark cave, with dust on our feet.
“I see your curiosity clearly.” He chuckled. “The Pahana believed that before going to judgment that one must walk the path of their ancestors for guidance. The red powder was charmed by witches, so they could see their ancestors. The walk had to be long so that by the time one reached the place of judgment, the powder would have come off their feet. By the time most mortals had reached the place of judgment, they were either filled with the confidence that they had done no wrong or so broken by the shaming of their ancestors that they confessed and sought judgment.”