Chapter 9: The Hearing

Pippa came around the last shelf in her cream suit, smiling.

"There you are," she said. "You read it?"

"I read it."

"Then you know he lied to you."

"I know you signed your own trap, Pip."

The smile flickered.

I walked past her toward the stairs with my hand flat over the zipped pocket on my chest.

"The hearing is Thursday at nine," she called after me. "I'll save you a seat."

I didn't turn around.

Thursday came.

The Court met in a vaulted hall behind the old Exchange, with candles in iron holders and a long dais at the far end.

Two hundred vampires lined the walls in evening clothes.

They turned as one when we walked in.

I came in my yellow slicker, because it was the only thing I owned that made me feel like myself.

Emeric came beside me in his charcoal coat, with his bandaged arm hidden, and his hand a careful inch from mine.

Winnie came behind us in her best church dress, carrying a handbag the size of a toolbox.

"Is that allowed?" I whispered.

"What are they going to do," she said, "bite my purse?"

At the dais sat Thaddeus Manigault, in a high carved chair, with Pippa at his shoulder holding a leather folder against her chest.

"Friends," he said. "Thank you for coming."

His voice carried to every corner without effort.

"Five nights ago, at the Marlow, a human girl bled in our hall."

He let it sit.

"Our heir tore through my guards to carry her away. Rumor says he enthralled her. I wish that were the worst of it."

A murmur ran round the room.

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