Forbidden (The Secret World Of Atlantis 2)

Chapter 9 - Silence In The Courtroom!

Within a few seconds, the courtroom erupts into chaos. People shake their heads disapprovingly, some murmur, while some openly yell at me. My father charges at me and I can spot a few familiar faces of Guardians, standing up from their seats and joining him.

But before he’s even able to close in on me, the judge conjures an invisible barrier, that prevents my father from proceeding. He stops, banging a fist at the shield angrily. “Quiet! Show respect for the witness, for she is here to clarify this event! Sit down, all of you!” the judge demands. It’s quite satisfying to watch father take orders from someone. He’s not at the top of the hierarchy in this place and I’m glad he knows that.

Only as the crowd begins to tone down, do I dare to turn my gaze to Eros. Everything inside me is screaming for me to go over to him and touch him. But he’s behind the barrier too. And it’s not like he’d let me … He’s not even looking at me. He’s staring at the floor stubbornly, not glancing anywhere else for even a split second. “Princess take a seat please,” the judge requests, motioning to a chair, that’s situated a bit lower than his own.

“Thank you, judge Erinome,” I remark, heading over to take my seat. As I do, I can feel the pressure of all eyes on me. All except one pair. Eros is still staring at the ground. I concentrate hard, trying to reach out to him. I’m going to help you, I say, sending the thought to his mind. I’m not sure he hears me, because he doesn’t even flinch. Or perhaps he’s only pretending.

“Do you swear by the Gods, that you will speak the truth and the truth only?” the judge asks me. I nod, anxious to get this over with. “A nod won’t suffice, Princess,” he remarks. I look him in the eyes.

“I swear by the Gods, that I’ll speak the truth,” I respond, not feeling the need to play around any longer. The more time passes, the better strategy for capturing me the Guardians will come up with. And I don’t want to give them that luxury. The judge nods shortly.

“Thank you, Princess. Now tell us, what you saw and experienced on that fateful evening. Try to tell us everything, that you remember,” he implies, finally giving me the permission to speak. I turn to the crowd in the courtroom. Half of the Io family is here. There are even some more important citizens present. But I don’t see any Callisto. Not even Eros’s parents. This hearing is illegal. At least in the human world. I’m not sure the same law applies to Atlantis, but humans don’t interrogate minors without the presence of their parents. It seems like these things don’t matter here. Nevertheless, it’s time to save Eros.

“I was walking from a meeting with the Headmistress that Thursday. Alone. It started to get chilly outside and soon it was raining. I ran to my house because it was pouring. I had an agreement with Princess Elena Callisto, that she would come over, when I would turn on the lights in my house, because she’s my neighbour across the fence. But I didn’t go inside, because Prince Eros Callisto came to talk to me. He had his wings out, which is how I noticed, that he’s in his Dark form, because they were black. And his eyes were red. I tried to talk him into letting me escort him to the Amphitheatre, so he could be locked up, but he didn’t listen. He wasn’t acting violently in any way. We were having a normal conversation,” I lie. It’s the only way to help him, I’m really sorry Gods. But I’m sure they know that. I take a deep breath before continuing. Here comes the hardest part. “We started fooling around-”

“Specify fooling around,” I can hear my father interrupting me. I don’t continue, I send a questioning gaze at the judge instead.

“Grant the prosecutor’s wish, then continue, please,” he requests, making me clench my jaw slightly. Alright, I can say this in front of all these people. But not without heat rising up to my cheeks with embarrassment.

“We started kissing. Then he asked me to let him drink my blood. And I gave him the permission to do so,” I continue making the story up. The whole courtroom is stunned at my confession, disapproving murmurs filling the deafening silence. Even the judge looks surprised.

“You’re lying! Undefined ones don’t posses the ability of self-control, once they’re in their Dark forms!” my father bursts out, his face twisted with rage, as he bangs a fist against the shield once again.

“Silence! Let the witness continue!” the judge demands, glaring at the King and the rest of the crowd. I look at my grandparents, who are so shocked at my words, that their eyes are still widened. I would like to say, that I’m going to explain everything to them, but it’s not like everything’s a lie. I wasn’t exactly pushing Eros away, once he started to kiss my neck. Without even realizing it, my gaze turns to the boy. And I notice him watching me with a hungry gaze. Oh dear. I force myself to tear my eyes away from him, before continuing.

“The prosecutor is right about one thing. Undefined ones aren’t known to be able to control themselves. That’s why they’re being locked up. I thought Eros could do it, but I overestimated us both. I convinced myself, that I would be able to stop him, if things go too far. But once they did, I didn’t just let him continue … I wanted him to,” I confess, speaking the last sentence from my heart. It’s possibly the truest thing, that I’ve told them. And it makes everyone go mad.

“Quiet! Or I’ll be sending you all out!” the judge yells at the crowd. They’re still protesting, but they quickly shut up, after the judge signals the guards behind him to escort the people out of the courtroom. The judge stops the peacemakers then, turning to Eros. “Prince Callisto, can you confirm the Crown Princess’s words? Did things happen the way she described them?” he asks. I turn my gaze towards my bonded, watching his stone hard expression. Oh no, he can’t screw this up now.

Please say yes. It’s the only way, I plead, trying my best to send the thoughts into his head. His walls are difficult to pass, but I can feel a weak point and I push through, until I’m sure, that I’m in. Say yes for Elena, if not for me, I beg him desperately, trying my best not to keep my face blank. But my heart is still beating with a crazy rhythm.

If Eros hears me, he doesn’t show it on his face. He also doesn’t respond to my words. But when his mouth finally opens, I feel like the anxiety is going to make my heart jump out of my chest. “Yes. Everything she said is true. But she left something out,” he responds, his eyes meeting mine. I am shocked by his words and all the more by the intensity of his gaze.

Tell them about us. Tell them about the bond, he speaks to me, his voice loud and clear in my head, making my insides tingle with excitement. If I wasn’t so nervous, I would be overjoyed by the fact, that he’s even acknowledging me. I look away, turning to the judge, who is studying me curiously.

“Is that so?” he remarks, looking like he doesn’t really believe Eros. “And will the Princess tell us, what that might be?” he continues, raising his eyebrows.

“I will tell you … Once I let him taste my blood, I awakened something else between us. We are bonded. Our souls are connected, just like I’m tied to my Pegasus, Silver,” I admit. This time the shock is so big, that no one speaks up. The silence is so thick, one could cut it with a knife. I decide to go one step further and add another layer of surprise. “And not just that. Once we felt the bond, I touched his wings,” I throw the bomb. In the next moment a lot of things happen. My grandmother faints, the judge is so stunned, that he drops the shield and then … all hell breaks loose.

The crowd erupts into a series of disgusted demands, to lock us both up, but that’s not what worries me the most. It’s the way my father’s gaze shifts, as it focuses on Eros. He charges at him, but I’m ready. There’s no way I’m letting him hurt my bonded. I raise my palms, conjuring a similar shield to the judge’s, but I wrap it around Eros in a circle, to prevent my father or anyone else from reaching him.

“Everybody get back to their seats immediately!” the judge roars suddenly, but no one seems to be listening to him. I can feel his guards brush past me, as they descend into the crows, to start forcing people to retrieve. But I only watch the action with one eye, as I’m too focused on keeping the shield up. “Prosecutor! If you don’t calm down, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the courtroom!” the judge finally addresses my raging father, who makes holding the shield all the more difficult by banging his fists against it. But he doesn’t seem like he’s going to stop anytime soon.

“What’s done is done! Leave him alone!” I join in, doubling my concentration in order to be able to speak. My father looks at me with so much anger, that it makes me freeze and I drop the shield. He seems to be turning to Eros in slow motion, that’s how terrifying the moment is. “NO!” I scream, but my father hits another wall. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, then turn to the judge, who seems to be doing his best to keep my father away from Eros.

“Guards, grab the prosecutor!” judge Erinome demands and a couple of his peacemakers jump at my father and pull him back to his chair immediately. The judge then puts his hand down, making the invisible wall around Eros disappear. That’s when people finally start to calm down slowly. My father excluded.

“Let go of me! I am the King!” he screams, awfully reminding me of Daniel’s behaviour. I shudder. That’s the one person, that I’m not going to think about right now.

“That’s why you should be setting a better example to your citizens. I’m giving you the last chance to calm down, or else I’m going to have to ask you to leave the courtroom,” the judge explains calmly. I hold a breath, anxiously waiting for my father’s answer. After his furious eyes meet with mine, he gives a short nod. “Good. Does the witness have anything to add to her testimony?” judge Erinome asks, turning to me.

“No, I don’t,” I answer, just wanting for all of this to be over. He nods, glancing at my father and then Eros.

“What about the prosecutor and the accused?” the judge wants to know. My father barks a no, while Eros simply shakes his head in response. “Then it is only fit for this hearing to be over. Based on everything I’ve heard from the witness, I’ve come up with a conclusion. Prosecutor, you weren’t there, when the event happened. However, the accused and the witness were. Since the witness admitted, that she wasn’t a victim and gave permission for her blood to be drank, I only deem it suitable to pardon the accused fully. I believe this event was nothing but an unfortunate accident. Prince Callisto is free to return to the Academy with the first delivery ship, that sails from Dairelis,” the judge concludes, making my face light up with a smile, while the courtroom is once again stunned. But I don’t care about them at all. I can’t believe it! I did it! I saved Eros! I turn to look at him, but he’s staring at the judge. And he doesn’t look happy at all.

I frown in confusion, already meaning to head over to him, but I am met with another problem. I can see my father standing up with the corner of my eye and as I turn to look at him, he points a finger at me. “Seize her,” he orders. I stiffen, as a number of Guardians raises up from the crowd, all of them heading towards me with serious expressions.