Fall from Grace (Book 2: An Angelblood Novel) (41 page)

Aura went into the kitchen and started making
some fresh breakfast for Rusty and the girls.
She was
almost happy this morning. She hadn’t said that in a
long time, but today she could say it again. She knew it
wouldn’t last.
As soon as Jeziel came back, her grief
would start all over again.
For now, she would enjoy
the peace.

Rita and the others arrived in front of the Hall
of Justice
before
nine.
They
walked inside
and
discovered Richard and Desiree weren’t there yet.

They were surprised to see Meredith sitting at
Henry’s table looking as arrogant as ever. “Enjoy
yourself now,” Rita mumbled. “Soon you won’t be so
uppity.”

“What’s she doing here with my father?”
Joshua asked.
Will patted his best friend on the back.“She’s
the one who filed the petition Josh.
You should have
known she would be here.”
“I expected her to be here, but I didn’t expect
to see her with my father,” he said bitterly.
“I’m sure they’re not together if that’s what
you’re worried about,” Jessica tried to reassure him.
“Maybe we should join them?” Rita said, with
a twinkle in her eyes.
Will started laughing. “I’m sure Meredith
would appreciate that.”
“All the more reason we should join them,”
Joshua grinned.
Will grabbed Rita’s hand and Joshua did the
same with Jessica. “I’m sure my future mother-in-law
will be overjoyed to see all of us,” Jessica laughed.
“Ex mother-inlaw,” Joshua reminded her.
“My father isn’t married to her anymore, remember?”
The four of them took their time sauntering to
the table before taking their seats at Henry’s table. Rita
could see that Meredith was not at all pleased.
In fact,
after they sat down, there weren’t any seats left for
Desiree or Richard.
“Guess your brother is going to have to find
another table,” Jessica whispered to Joshua.
“Pity isn’t it,” Joshua smiled.
A few minutes later, Richard and Desiree came
through the doors. Looking at Rita and Jessica Richard
mumbled under his breath. “I thought this was a closed
meeting?”
Rita heard him loud and clear. “Will and I are
here as representatives for the Guild.” she said. “I’m
sure the Commission will have no objection to Joshua
and his fiancée being here; considering that Caspian is
his brother.”
Richard glared at Rita, but the Commission
agreed they could stay.
Richard and Desiree had no choice, but to sit at
an adjoining table to Henry and Meredith. Rita looked
around; it was just as perfect as Aura described.
There were only two other members of the
Commission present; all that was required for matters
such as this. All together there were only ten people in
attendance, although judging by the amount of food, it
was clear another meeting was scheduled afterwards.
Before they got started, Rita and Jessica fixed
the
boys
another plate.
They knew
they probably
weren’t hungry, but they didn’t want to seem
inattentive. Once they were seated, Arthur stood and
addressed those present.
“We are gathered today to hear testimony in
the petition to have Caspian Fairbourne declared legally
dead.”
Jessica could see Joshua’s teeth clench and she
put her hand affectionately on his arm. “Don’t worry-
everything will be fine,” she assured him.
“This Committee will call Desiree Devereaux
Fairbourne as our first witness.
As Desiree walked to the front of the hall,
Arthur asked, “Are you prepared to give truthful
testimony to this Committee?”
Desiree looked to Richard before answering,
“Yes.”
“We will hear in your own words the reason for
your petition.”
As Desiree sat nervously in the chair in the
front of the room, Rita and Jessica both noticed how
much weight she had gained.
She wore a loose fitting
dress, which did nothing to hide her growing belly.
Rita used the rings to communicate silently. “She looks
pregnant Jess.”
“If she is, it certainly isn’t her husband’s
baby.”
“I can’t wait to hear her explain that to the
Committee.”
Desiree began her story by saying she never
loved Caspian, but didn’t want to disobey her mother
who insisted they be married.
She spoke of how he
abandoned her on their wedding
night
and never
consummated the marriage.
Rita and Jessica looked at Richard. They were
speaking silently to each other. “Do you believe that?
He
left
her on
her wedding
night,
before
they
consummated the marriage,” Jessica said.
“Maybe Caspian didn’t consummate the
marriage, but I’d bet money his brother did,” Rita
snickered. When Richard stared back at her she smiled.
“Keep smiling Richard. We’ll see how long that lasts,”
she said silently.
Jessica had to hide her face in a
napkin to keep from laughing out loud.
Rita then
winked at Richard.
He was less than amused by her
actions.
When Desiree
finished with
her testimony
Arthur asked, “Does anyone else have anything to
add?”
The doors to the hall burst open and a hooded
stranger walked up to the front of the room.“I believe
I have something to say.”
“Identify yourself and then we may consider
your testimony,” Arthur said.
“Gladly,” the stranger said. When he removed
his hood and his cloak Joshua jumped out of his chair.
“Caspian,” he yelled.
Desiree looked at her husband and then to
Richard. She didn’t know what to do.
She started to
run towards Caspian but he held his arm out to stop her.
“Gentlemen as you can see I am clearly not dead;
though I know my brother and his future wife are
highly disappointed by that fact,” he said coldly.
“In light of the overwhelming evidence, I must
declare this petition to be null and void,” Arthur said,
with a smile.
“If you will permit me, I do have other matters
to bring to the attention of this Committee,” Caspian
said, looking directly at Richard.
Richard wasn’t about to let Caspian ruin his
plans, but before he could respond, Arian and Jade
walked through the
door.
They were
followed by
Ambrosia, Analie, and Winifred Whitehall.
Arian walked slowly to Richard’s table;
standing defiantly in front of him. “You killed my
parents. You killed the Allgoods and countless others.
Now it’s time for you to atone for those deaths,” he
declared.
Richard anticipated Arian would
go for a
weapon.
Within seconds he quickly pulled his dagger
from his jacket.
Jade screamed as she saw the blade
moving towards Arian’s heart. Jessica’s whip stopped
it midair, before it could make contact with her friend.
At the same time Richard threw his blade, Rita
threw Jayden’s blade into his chest.
No one attempted
to stop her.
The dagger hit him square in the chest,
causing him to slump forward.
They watched as the black torrent seeped into
his white linen shirt, leaving no evidence of the red and
gold angel’s blood which once flowed through his
veins. There was no doubt that he had chosen the path
to darkness. His blood was as black as coal. When the
surge stopped, he collapsed to the ground. Richard was
dead.
Meredith and Desiree both screamed.
Desiree
ran to Richard; hoping there was a chance he was still
alive.
“You killed my son! Arrest her!” Meredith
shouted at Henry, but no one moved.
Clearly it was
self defense.
The witnesses could see that Richard
would have killed Arian if Rita and Jessica had not
stepped in.
“There will be no charges brought against this
girl.
She was clearly defending Arian.
Richard was
trying to kill the boy, at least that’s what I saw.
Did
anyone else see anything different?” Arthur asked.
They
all
shook their
heads
in support
of
Arthur’s conclusion. Arthur called for two of the male
servants to take Richard’s body outside, until they
decided what to do with him. He motioned for another
servant to remove the black pool that contaminated the
floor of the Hall of Justice.
Desiree was sobbing uncontrollably.
was shouting. “This is a mockery Henry.
murdered your son. I expect you to defend him! Is she
not held to the same laws as the rest of us?”
Henry maintained his calm. “There is nothing
to be done.
Richard pulled his blade first. If Jessica
hadn’t called for her whip, Arian would be dead. Rita
acted in self defense. She was defending her family.
I
suggest you get control of yourself.”
“You will pay for this! I won’t rest until I see
the lot of you dead,” Meredith cursed Rita.
“Are you threatening me?” Rita smirked.
“You would like an excuse to kill me too. But
it won’t happen today,” Meredith spat.
Meredith
That girl
Will stood in front of Rita, to block her. There
was no way he was going to allow her to be hurt.
He
didn’t trust Meredith and he swore if she tried anything
stupid, she would join her son in Hell.
Joshua didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
Instead, he sat there with a big smile on his face.
“You think this is funny?” Meredith shouted.
“He was your brother.”
“I told you before he was not my brother and
you are certainly not my mother.
You should calm
yourself Baroness. I’m sure you don’t want to suffer
the same fate as your son,” Joshua smirked.
Joshua was glad that Richard was finally dead.
Maybe now they could have some much needed peace
in their lives.
His mother might make threats, but she
wasn’t as powerful, or as frightening as Richard.
It would only be a matter of time, before the
Utopians heard the news.
Joshua knew many of them
would celebrate Richard’s death.
Jessica was impressed the way Joshua stood up
to Meredith.
As she sat there looking at her future
husband, she couldn’t help feeling proud.
Caspian addressed Arthur and the remaining
member
of the
Council. “In light of the fact my
marriage was never consummated to this woman.” He
pointed to Desiree. “I am asking the Commission to
grant me an immediate annulment.
I understand she
wants to marry and have children. I certainly don’t
want to get in the way of her plans.”
“You don’t want to get in the way of my
plans?
Are you joking?
Richard was my future!
We
were
to be
married
tomorrow. You know
he
was
everything to me and you allowed Rita to kill him to
spite me,” Desiree bellowed.
“Gentlemen, need I say more. It’s obvious
although I didn’t consummate my marriage; my brother
was more than a little familiar with my wife.
Tell me
Desiree, when is the baby due?”
Desiree looked at Caspian with horror, but kept
silent.
She
instinctively
placed her hand on her
stomach.“How could he know?” She thought the dress
hid her stomach completely. Surely Richard would
never have told him.
She looked at Meredith.
Was it possible she
had betrayed them? No - Meredith loved Richard too.
It must have been Rita or perhaps her sister Aura. They
would pay dearly for taking him away from her.
She
promised she would find a way to make them all suffer.
“As you can see my wife does not deny she is
expecting a child. Perhaps she should have taken more
care to disguise her condition. Considering I have been
working as a member of the Guard since the night of
my marriage; if you could call it that, the child cannot
be mine.
I am prepared to swear under oath I never
touched her; nor do I have any intentions of ever
touching
her.
I
would appreciate
your decision
gentlemen as soon as possible; so that I might get on
with my life,” he looked hardheartedly at Desiree.
Arthur
looked
at
Henry
and
the
other
Commissioners.
They had a brief discussion before
Arthur addressed the small group. “We have reached a
decision. According to the Laws of the Utopian people
and because your marriage was never consummated,
we
have
no choice
but
Furthermore, all
records
destroyed.”
Desiree didn’t dare argue with them. She knew
that she could be banished forever if they saw fit.
Instead, she held her tongue, swearing vengeance on
those who had taken Richard from her.
“Due to the nature of your appeal to this
Commission it is our judgment that Desiree Devereaux
be forbidden from using the surname of Fairbourne.
She will use her maiden name of Devereaux from this
day forward. Because the marriage was not recognized
in the eyes of this Commission or Heaven, she will not
be entitled to any compensation.
You are a free man
Caspian Fairbourne.”
“Thank you gentlemen; it means more than you
know.”
Joshua was the first to congratulate his brother.
Upon hearing the verdict Meredith and her daughter-into grant
your request.
of the
marriage
will
be
law fled before the Council could bring charges against
Desiree for her infidelity.
“Maybe now the Utopian people can finally
have some quiet,” Arian smiled.
“We should plan a meeting with the residents
as soon as possible,” Henry said. “I doubt any of them
will mourn his death.”
“I need a nap,” Jessica whined. “Have you
forgotten we have a wedding this evening?”
“Will you be there?” Joshua asked Caspian.
“I’ll stay here and help father sort this out, but
you can expect
me
later.
Andromeda
is
looking
forward to the wedding.
Now we have a reason to
celebrate.”
No one questioned his mention of Andromeda.
Joshua and Will had known for some time he was in
love with her.
Perhaps with Richard out of the way,
things would settle down and they could think about
their own wedding.
As they were walking out of the Hall the old
hag was limping by. “I told you death would follow
you,” she chuckled. “He’ll be back. Mark my words.”
She turned and continued to limp her way towards the
dark part of town, still singing that irritating elegy.
“Who is she?” Rita asked.
“Her that’s just Grendel. She’s harmless,”
Joshua said.
“Why does she always seem to show up when
someone dies?” Rita muttered.
“What do you think she meant?” Jessica asked.
“I have no idea. I think she’s a little crazy, but
to my knowledge she’s never hurt anyone.
She just
hobbles around the city. I thought you wanted to take a
nap?” Joshua asked.
“Yeah- thanks for reminding me.
I hope I
don’t fall asleep on the way home,” she laughed.
They said their goodbyes and Joshua promised
Jessica she would still have time for a nap before they
left
for
the
church.
Even though Richard was
his
brother, Joshua was glad he was dead.
They had a lot
to look forward to.
They would be exchanging their
own wedding vows in another six days.
With his
brother gone, he could just relax and enjoy the peace.