Chapter 76

Chapter 76
Scarlett’s POV

Warren was in bed, grief-stricken and unable to move an inch, when I told him that Marie was going to be put on trial he barely looked at me. He didn’t seem bothered or maybe he couldn’t hear me. I was also devastated and desperate to know what happened. Becky didn’t deserve that fate, I wish I could bring her back to life if only I knew how. If she were fatally wounded I could have cured her quickly but she was dead! What am I going to do now? Who’s going to be my best friend now? Who’s going to stand by me when I need it? The support, the love, the bond! Are they all gone? I can’t believe it.

I took a shower and got dressed. Jack says that Marie will be here soon. I can’t afford to miss this, not one second of it. 

The throne room filled up gradually as everyone took their rightful place, the king on his throne, I beside him, and the council of elders on the left and right. We didn’t want the matter to be in the public eye, so only a selected group was available. The press were not allowed in either.

Marie was brought in, bandaged under her chest and her head, which was dramatic because we only shot her side.

She glared at me and I retorted back at her, as she knelt with her head bowed all I could do was wish that I had killed her.
Jack slowly rose to his feet and greeted everyone, he stated the purpose of the meeting. 

“Marie Brooke, you are being accused of the murder of Rebecca Grant, second lady of the Silvermoon pack, her sudden death occurred yesterday around 6:30pm and 7pm from being impaled by an unidentified weapon. What do you have to say in response to this?”

She looked up with a start as she was surprised and innocent, she shook her head and burst into tears.

“I’m innocent. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She wept which angered me. “At the time yesterday, I was getting off a cargo ship just to be able to return to Silvermoon, how could I have committed murder at the same time?”

“Perhaps an accomplice?” Jack replied.

“I have been here all alone, where in this pack am I going to find an accomplice? I have no friends and nowhere to go.” She wept like she was the victim but she’s a liar and it was all an act.

“What about that bird? The bird that shapeshifts like the rest of us?” I barked.
“Which bird?”
I hated her for trying to make me look stupid so I got up and charged at her but Jack grabbed my hand.

“The bird we had a brawl over, you know what I’m talking about!” I yelled.

“I don’t, the only shapeshifters I know are all of you, I don’t know of any bird that can shift into anything else.” She cried.
“You liar!” I screamed and tried to break free from Jack’s grasp, but he was too strong for me.

“This is unfair, I was shot while hunting and shipped off with cargo, I went through so much just to live and return to this pack only to be accused of the unthinkable.” She wept so loudly that I could feel the compassion and pity in the room.

No, I can’t let her win this time, I can’t let her win again, she’s been winning all this while I can’t let her have the last laugh this time.

I tossed the card beginning her, 
“Now if you’re so innocent, tell us why you lied about your identity, tell us you’re not a dragon.”

She picked up the card and started crying even louder, 

“I’m not a dragon, dragons are creatures on their own, they do not shift shape.”
“You seem to know so much about them…” Jack remarked and she nodded vigorously, 

“Yes I do, I know so much about them, because I was a servant in the house of the dragon princess. They maltreated me and abused me for many years but I had nowhere to run to. Dawn Winters is the princess’s name, you can look her up.”

I know this girl is lying, she’s the dragon princess, I don’t know how she managed to make herself look younger than her actual age but I know she’s a liar and a great actress.

“Marie if that is so, why didn't you ever mention it once that you were working as the servant from the dragon kingdom? And why do you have the princess’s card with you?”

“I don’t know how it got here! I don’t remember taking it. I swear I’m not lying.”
“Jack, if you fall for these crocodile tears, I will never forgive you,” I yelled.

“Your highness, I am the one who has been treated unfairly here, yet I am the one being punished. The queen and the second lady shot me, tied me up in a duffel bag, and dropped me at the cargo station to be sent far away from here.” She suddenly turned the tables on me, the whole council was staring at me and I started to shiver. Where was Becky to save me now? Oh Becky!

“You're a darmed filthy liar, Becky had some personal items she wanted to sell, that was the only reason we went to the cargo station.” I defended myself.

“Enough!” Jack yelled, I could clearly see his frustrations but I needed him to be on my side. “Lock Marie up in the dungeon, this meeting has been adjourned. Tomorrow we will continue. Same time, same place.”

He bowed slightly and hurried on his way out, I didn’t hurry, I waited till Marie was dragged out before I went running after Jack. I needed answers, he had to explain why he ended the meeting so abruptly.