Chapter 63 The review
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane called. “We asked you a question?”
“Yes, yes you did.” She said hurriedly, clenching her hands.
“Forgive me, it's just, seeing Lord Hale in the place Lucien usually sits is unnerving.”
Lord Sloane nodded. “ We all feel the same, but this investigation must go on. Snap out of whatever discomfort you are in, Ms Thorne. We need your full attention.”
Isabella nodded. “Yes, I'm sorry. You asked a question, previously. Would you mind repeating it?” She batted her eyelids.
Lord Sloane sighed in frustration. “Why should we believe you? All the evidences point to you.”
“In the same way, all evidences were pointing at me some months ago.” She responded calmly. “Listen, I'm not here to defend myself. I'm here to say that this should be investigated.”
“And it has.” Sloane's voice was hard. “Do you think the council is negligent in its duty?”
“Yes.”
Her response made Sloane pause in his steps. He already had his speech figured out, prepared to attack her, but her answer had taken him unawares.
And it appeared he was not the only one. Other members of the council roared in shock, whispers generating, making the hall noisy.
“Ms Thorne? Are you aware of the gravity of your statement?” Damien said, a few feet away from her, seated at Lucien's position.
Isabella ignored him, staring straight at Lord Sloane.
“Miss Thorne? Lord Hale just asked you a question.”
Lord Sloane began, stepping in when he realised that Isabella had no intention of responding to Damien.
“I do not answer to him. I'm here to respond to the accusations of the council.” She said through clenched teeth.
“It's alright, Lord Sloane,” Damien said, waving it off, smiling. “Ms Thorne and I have our history as the courts know, so she may not really be receptive to me.”
“That's very kind of you, Lord Hale.” Lord Sloane said appreciatively, turning to Isabella.
“Ms Thorne, you say you think the council is negligent in her duties?”
“I did not stutter.” Her voice was firm.
Lord Sloane swallowed. “Do you mind explaining to the house why you think so?”
“With all pleasure,” she rubbed her hands together, giving him the sweetest smile she could muster.
“Some months ago, having come into this palace, I was accused by some persons of having the Moonlit blood, which is true.” She added hurriedly.
“I obviously would not want to deny my origins, would I?” She paused, looking around the hall.
Before her, many of the men stared at her in full attention. They had never seen this aspect of her.
They'd witnessed the scared Isabella, the taunted Isabella, the abandoned Isabella but never the strong, firm Isabella.
“And that same source, had gone around, spreading the news that the Moonlit blood was responsible for all the killings and atrocities committed in Crestwood and beyond.”
She paused, picking up a bottle of water as she drank slowly, still commanding third attention.
“And the Council had bought it. I know it's really no use explaining the situation and history, because we all witnessed it, well except Lord Hale. Still, I'm sure he was told about it when he joined the council.”
She glanced at Damien who nodded slightly. “You're right, Ms Thorne. It was buzzing news even outside of Crestwood.”
“Good,” Isabella swallowed satisfactorily. “Now, this same Council, believed the word of one man over mine. Well, at least it was his word against mine. We both had only words.”
She shook her head. “Scratch that. He had words, and I had alibis. Solid ones actually. Would you want to know what the Council did?” She turned back to Damien.
“This is absolutely unnecessary, Ms Thorne.” Lord Sloane interrupted, embarrassment flushing his face.
“Yes, you are right.” Isabella agreed. “There is no reason to recount the story because it exposes the negligence of the council, but if you insist.”
Lord Sloane sighed. “Ms Thorne, this honourable court does not really have all the time in the world.
“Neither do I!” She retorted coldly. “Do you think it makes me feel good that I am being associated with all of these?
That the people, my people think I am dangerous because of a few lies being spread about me?”
Sloane grimaced. “This is not about you, Ms Thorne. This is about the safety of the people.”
“I agree.” She nodded. “The people are being killed, because someone is greedy and desperate enough to kill his people because he wants the throne and me.”
The council was quiet. “You sound very convincing, Ms Thorne, but so do these stories. These are people who have come up with stripes of being attacked by you. And not just in Crestwood alone.”
“Tell me more.” She said calmly.
“You and, His Majesty went on some ‘sabbatical’” Sloane began, emphasising the word sabbatical as if he knew. “Now, the route to the journey has been filled with bloodshed. Actual humans, Miss Thorne killed, their heads ripped apart, their bodies shredded…”
Isabella shuddered, clenching her stomach, feeling a deep pit growing.
“Stop, I don't wanna hear more.”
“Why? Because you did it?” A voice shouted from the back.
She stared hard in the direction from which the voice had emanated. “Because these are actual people being killed. Just hearing the stories alone, I felt so sick and you think I would have the mind to do such?”
“Looks are deceptive, Ms Thorne,” Sloane responded instead.
“I agree. You should look within you and see the truth.” Her confidence wavered. “All I'm asking is that you give me time and take your time to investigate further.”
“How much time?” Damien asked this time around.
Isabella spun, shocked that he had agreed. “One week.”
Murmurs rose at her request. “That's a lot, Ms Thorne,” Damien said shaking his head.
“When we give graces like that to people who have offended this court, it may turn around to bite us in the ass.”
“I'm not an offended member of the court. I haven't even been found guilty.” She interjected coldly.
“No you haven't, which is why we are willing to give you time.” He glanced at the other elders for confirmation, and they nodded, as if in a trance.
Isabella hesitated. “How much time are you willing to give me?”
“You say. How much time do you need?” He interjected.
“One week.” She said, sighing.
“24 hours.” His voice held a note of finality to it, but she was not deterred.
“5 days.”
“36 hours.”’
“3 days”
“36 hours.” Damien insisted, not budging.
“3 days?” Isabella tried again.
“48 hours and that's final.”
Isabella hesitated. He was giving her two days to find evidence for a job that he'd used months to plan and execute.
This was the best that she was going to get and she would use it to her advantage. Victoria was already way ahead of her.
“Fine, I'll accept it.” She said grudgingly.
“48 hours, Ms Thorne and your evidence better be convincing, else this court will put you to your death faster than you can imagine. Alongside, your son.”
Isabella nodded gravely. Damien had covertly added Elias to the mix and he would fulfil it.
She nodded gratefully, curtseying as she walked to the entrance, gracefully.
She could feel his eyes on her back, making her conscious of every step she was taking.
The doors opened and she ran into the hands of Lucien who had been waiting patiently at the door.
She exhaled, falling into his arms.
“How did it go?” He asked, as he drew her aside.
“I bought us time. Two days.” She panted. She'd been holding back her fear, putting her answers before them bravely just so they wouldn't smell a whiff of fear in her, but now that she was safe in the arms of Lucien, tears pooled in her eyes.
“Two days,” he nodded approvingly. “You did that. I'm super proud of you.” He kissed her lightly on her cheeks.
“Let's get you to your room. You look super exhausted.”
“I am.” Isabella agreed. “Seeing him in your position made me want to strangle him.”
Lucien chuckled. “That makes two of us.” He said, grabbing her arm as he led her to the room.
“Any news from Victoria?” Isabella asked suddenly.
“Nah, she hasn't made contact,” Lucien responded. He was practically dragging her.
“Do you think she would?” She asked, her voice so low that Lucien had to strain his ears to hear her.
“I think she will. She has no choice.”
Isabella sighed. “Damien is crafty. Now I feel foolish for agreeing to two days. If she doesn't show up, Elias and I will pay.”
Lucien stopped in his tracks. “He's threatening Elias?” Veins bulged from his face. “That son of a bitch.”
Isabella nodded.
“I should have killed him when I had the chance to,” Lucien muttered to himself. “But it's not too late. I'm not going to give him a swift death. Something so painful he'll cry for death.”