382 New face of Judgement

Jos's grip tightened on Arei's hand as her footsteps faltered.

Arei leaned down toward her. "What is it kitten?"

"I… I just spoke to him out in the courtyard. He… he didn't say anything about this."

Arei's voice hardened. "What did he say to you?"

Jos's brows furrowed. "He was just asking me questions about my…" Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no!" Her worried gaze moved to Arei. "He… he was asking me questions about my Kraken form!"

A muscle twitched in Arei's jaw as his angry gaze lifted to the council box. "I was afraid of this…" He tightened his hold on her. "Don't worry too much about it, kitten. We'll find a way around this."

Jos swallowed hard as she nodded and forced her feet to move. Her eyes kept returning to the box as she made her way to the front until Drake's eyes locked with hers. The acknowledging smile caused a knot to form in Jos's stomach. She let Arei lead her to the defendant's box and nervously took the seat that was offered to her. Even as others made their way to seats inside the council box Jos's eyes stayed locked on Drake. She wracked her brain, repeating their conversation in her head over and over trying to make any sense or motive from the words shared.

"This isn't what we agreed to." Arei's voice broke through Jos's turbulent thought drawing her attention to the men beside her.

"Have some faith in me and my decisions, son." Poseidon clasped Arie's shoulder as he sent her a nod. "I have to go now. We're sitting in on this, as well, today."

His words caused her anxiety to grow. 'We'… The word alone made her knees shutter. What would be the gods' final decision… What fate awaited… A cold chill ran down her spine. Instinctively her head turned back to the council box. Sure enough, the small remaining panel of council members was now being joined by Themis, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. She inched closer to Arei, taking comfort in his large, warm frame.

"It's going to be alright, Kitten." Arei gave her hand a light squeeze before wiggling the engagement ring on her finger. "Where you go, I go from here on out."

Without reply Jos bit her lip, moving her nervous gaze back to the council box.

Themis stood and began to address the room, but her words were lost on Jos. The pounding of her heart vibrated her eardrums sending a deafening throb through her ears. She swallowed past the lump building in her throat and closed her eyes trying to regain control of her own rapid heartbeat. She focused all of her attention on the soft words of the goddess and prayed they would be favorable.

"This aside, it has been brought to my attention that previous rulings may not have been done so with complete bias. Though there is no way of reversing such rulings, especially with the current case that has been brought before us, I do look to everyone here today to approach this with complete honesty and a sense of non-bias. Even I can not see all sides of every story. I can only judge the truths presented to me." Themis gave a slight bow as she stepped away from the podium, and Zeus took her place.

His wide smile betrayed his cocky demeanor. "I could not agree more, and with that being said, I have personally seen to it that we have all the fresh faces of the new council present here today. Let their judgments be weighed against the bias of the rest of us." His gaze locked on Jos as a knowing smile spread wider across his lips.

Arei gave her hand another squeeze. "He's threatening us, but it's alright. Each member was voted on by everyone, not just hand chosen by Zeus himself."

Jos nodded but a chill had already settled over her body.

"We are here to determine the fate of Miss Joslyn Decker, the Kraken." Zeus emphasized the word 'miss' and her last name. His knowing gaze moved back and forth between Arei and Jos. "In our last meeting, you claimed to be engaged. Is that still the case, boy?"

Arei nodded as he stood up and helped her to stand beside him. "We are."

Zeus arched a brow. "Yet my wife, Hera, has not been notified? Are we to assume these plans are not set in stone then?"

Arei masked his anger. "We have already gotten Hera's blessing half a millennia ago. We have no reason to believe those blessings to have been rescinded."

Zeus's brow arched higher. "Then a date has been set?" He sent a knowing glance at Hades.

Arei answered reluctantly. "It has not… no… but it shall be. We just need time to plan out the details is all."

A triumphant smile curved Zeus's lips. "And have you not had half a millennia to plan the event?"

Arei swallowed his own frustrated growl. "There have been many other pressing matters recently."

Just as Zeus was about to bite out another stinging remark, Hades lifted his hand to silence his brother. "Then the only issue to address today is not the impending wedding, but the future employment of Miss Decker and the setting of safety measures not only for mankind but for Miss Decker as well. I feel no reason to drag out the topic of marriage any further."

Zeus nodded. "Very well." He turned to Poseidon. "So, now that you assume authority over the Kraken, what are your plans with her?"

Poseidon stood. "I stand by my previous decision. Joslyn would be very suited for the work that my group does… however, there may need to be slight adjustments in her training and boundaries within the organization."

Jos's brows bunched and she stepped forward. "No."

Poseidon stopped mid-sentence and turned a questioning glance her way. "No? To what, pray tell, dear?"

Jos pulled her hand free of Arei's and fumbled with the hem of her suit jacket. "No… I do not wish to return to your organization under the same circumstances as before. I… I do not want to kill… or be put in a position where the predator within is tempted. I will admit, I'm not yet completely in control of that side of myself." Her sad, pleading gaze moved to Drake. "I don't want any more blood on my hands… because regardless of how black and white the person I go after's crimes are… there will always be those innocent people who are also hurt by my actions. I realize that now."

Poseidon frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze locked on Jos's for several long moments before he finally closed his eyes and blew out an exasperated breath. "Very well… I would like to ask for a short recess while Miss Decker's words are taken into consideration."

Zeus, now beside Poseidon, slammed his hand down on the podium. "No. Though her words were…" His cold, calculating glare moved to her. "Enlightening, this whole mess has dragged on long enough. I ask that the courts reach a decision today."

The brothers were toe to toe when another, unexpected, person stood. Drake's eyes locked on Jos's. "Why should the words of two gods vying for control of a woman, as if she is no more than a toy, hold more sway than the words of the individuals her actions have directly affected hold?"

The courtroom fell silent. Jos could feel her stomach sink. This was it. The cunning features of Xavier shined down from the council box. At that moment Drake looked every bit the man his father had been and more. However, the question in her heart was whether this man before her now, who held so much sway over her future… did he resent her? Would he have the same seemingly kind heart as the one she'd ripped from his father's chest? Or was he as genuine as he seemed?

Drake's eyes burned into her as he spoke. "This woman has killed my grandfather, father, mother, uncle, and countless others of my kind. She has forced a boy who has always been like a little brother to me to endure a horror no young person should ever have to face."

Jos could feel her vision begin to blur as the gasps of the courtroom echoed around her. Arei's tight hold on the small of her back was the only thing keeping her standing upright.

Drake's loud voice radiated through the quiet room. "Should my opinion on this matter not be heard as well?" He didn't wait for the murmuring around him to stop, instead, he continued on. "Joslyn Decker has proven time and time again to be a strong creature with few natural beings capable of overpowering and controlling her. She has told me herself that she has little control over her shifted form and that she herself fears it is capable of hurting even those she loves most…" A smile curved his lips as he continued holding her gaze. "But if one takes a closer look at her actions, I believe those actions paint a completely different picture than the one most of you, including Joslyn herself, have. Yes, she single-handedly brought down the vessel carrying my grandfather and many of his supporters… but it was not her desire to do so. No, instead, it was a ploy by another to exploit her curse and lack of control over it for their own gain. Yes, she killed my mother and uncle…" His lips turned up into a sour grin as he looked out over the rest of the court. "Is there a person here that hadn't thought about it themselves at least once? My mother and uncle were evil people. They got joy and power from the suffering of others. Anyone in this courtroom the day Rachelle Boosilis Bhamra gave her testimony would have wanted to drive a stake through Dante DeMarco's heart." He stood and walked over to the podium and set a file in front of the gape-mouthed brothers still standing there. "Anyone who reads through the investigation that was opened on my mother would agree, though done in a horrific manner, the punishment was deserving. As for Mathew DeMarco… He was judged by the Kraken and found to be innocent of the dark, heinous actions of his family. One may see the acts he was forced to carry out that day to be a painful reminder to never choose the path they had chosen… or at least that is how Mattie sees it." Drake sent Joslyn a smile. "I don't think it is this court's place to force undeserving punishments on a creature they themselves do not fully understand, nor is it their place to force life choices on her that she is not ready to make for herself. I know very little about her… but what I do know is this; She is a passionate, caring person. She does not see people for what worth can be gained in exchange for their lives. She saves and takes lives based on the true value of those individuals' souls… in a way that the rest of us can not understand or even fathom." He tugged the badge from his chest labeling him as a new council member. "If anyone should be standing up here passing judgments it should be her." He held out the badge. "You want to punish her by forcing her into a role for the courts… to the gods' greater benefit? Here allow her to take up a seat on this council."

Loud murmuring broke out throughout the courtroom. The color drained from Zeus's face before rapidly swelling with red-hot anger. "This is not why I cast my recommendation to you!" He bit out in a blind rage.

Themis stood and quickly made her way to the podium. She hit the gavel down bringing order to the courtroom. "Settle down! We will take a quick recess! The hearing will restart in one hour." The sound of the scrapping of chairs and loud voices echoed through the room. Themis narrowed her eyes at Zeus. "And is this what you wanted?"

He clenched his jaws, grinding his back teeth in a frustrated rage. "Of course not!"

"Then perhaps it is time you choose your battles more wisely. I will not lend aid again. I'm done covering for you."

Zeus grabbed Themis's arm and clamped down painfully. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

She lowered her voice as she glared back at him. "It means, had I not lied for you and stopped the mutiny against you all those years ago, perhaps things would be better for it now." She pulled her arm free of his grip. "You do not deserve that throne you have placed yourself upon." She bit out before turning her back to the man she'd once loved with all her heart. "You do not deserve my love…" She muttered more to herself than him before walking away.

"You'll regret your words!" He called after her.

Themis turned. "No, though they may be one of the few things in my long life I do not find myself regretting."

As Drake stepped out into the rear hallway of the courtroom, Poseidon approached him. The large sea god clasped his shoulder. "You really gave me a scare there at first. I thought you'd turned against us for a moment, but then you pulled through amazingly." He gave the young man's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before releasing his hold. "I believe your speech even turned Themis against my brother." He nudged Drake with his elbow. "You have no idea how long we have all been waiting on that one."

Hades approached the pair with a nod. "Outstanding, and on your first day sitting on the council, nonetheless. I shall not regret my vote in your favor."

Drake nodded. "Thank you. I only said what I felt… what I've seen and know with my own eyes. Nothing more."

Hades clasped Drake's other shoulder. "You did well. Not many are willing to give an honest statement when standing against the three of us. I'm sure it was the truth of your words that swayed Themis's resolve toward our brother… and my own resolve toward forcing that marriage… you're right. It is not our place."

Poseidon held up a hand. "Now wait. About that… I'd still like to go forward with that… Even if we do not truly mean to force it or punish them should one of them happen to back out… but… I still think it is the best for both of them."

Hades frowned. "That shall be left between you and your son. I'll not get involved any further."

"Then… Perhaps just don't bring it up again during the remaining bits of this hearing?" Poseidon sent his brother a charming smile.

Hades shook his head. "Very well… but I'll not help you force it either."

Poseidon chuckled. "Trust me, it's what they both want. They're just both too fool-headed to realize it and make it happen."

Drake laughed nervously. "Remind me not to come to you for love advice."

Poseidon gave him a knowing grin. "I believe you have that well handled on your own." He sent him a wink. "And don't worry, this position with the council will help you make positive influences on laws governing marriage between other factions of creatures. You'll have that which you want most before too much longer."

Drake nodded. "I hope…" He nodded toward the restroom. "Now if you'll excuse me."

Hades and Poseidon both watched the young vampire as he disappeared behind the closed door. "You know this would still count as manipulation, right?"

Poseidon shrugged. "Yes, but does it count when it benefits everyone involved?"

"Not everyone…"

Poseidon let out a heavy sigh. "Perhaps not… But it is still the better thing to do…"

"Hum… I wonder…" Hades shrugged elegantly. "I suppose only time shall tell."