BXBX NOVEL Chapter 94: Prepare For Judgement
Target entered next, his demeanor smug as he prepared to present his case. He took his place, glancing at Ezra with a look of superiority. The room fell silent as the Arbiter made her entrance. She moved with a regal grace, her presence commanding and authoritative. Her Aura, almost tangible, filled the room, pressing down on everyone present.
She took her seat on the throne, her gaze sweeping over the assembled parties. "The court is now in session," she announced, her voice resonating with power. "Target, you may once again present your case."
Target stepped forward, a confident smirk on his face. "Arbiter, the evidence against Ezra Matten is clear and irrefutable. The footage shows him revealing his vampire nature to a human, breaking the Law of Secrecy. His excuses are just that. Excuses. We all know that First City is known for having the highest population of vampires capable of walking under the sun.
This incident is a clear violation, and he must be held accountable."
The Arbiter listened, her expression unreadable. When Target finished, she turned her gaze to Ezra. "Ezra Matten, you may present your defense."
Ezra stood. "Arbiter, I maintain my innocence. The footage is not genuine. I call upon the Captain of the Peacekeepers as my witness."
Target's eyes widened in confusion as his boss stepped forward. She was dressed in her white uniform, her cap balanced precariously on her head. The room buzzed with whispers, and Macmillan's smug expression faltered.
The Arbiter nodded to Captain Helena. "Proceed, captain."
Captain Helena addressed the Arbiter, her voice clear and firm. "Arbiter, I conducted an independent investigation into this case without informing officer Target in order to avoid any form of bias. What I discovered was that the footage was indeed a setup, but not in the way everyone assumed."
"I have evidence of this." She gestured to the screen in the room. The Arbiter waved her forward and the captain plugged in a USB stick, presenting a new piece of evidence. The footage played, showing a familiar scene. Ezra watched carefully, recognizing the elevator of the penthouse apartment building. But what he saw next shocked him.
The footage showed Aaron, Macmillan's friend and the deceased leader of the now-defunct Aaron Coven, riding in the elevator. As the elevator reached its destination, Aaron shapeshifted into Ezra's likeness. The doors opened, and he stepped out with bared vampire red eyes, creating the incriminating scene.
Captain Helena continued, "The vampire known as Aaron had an existing agenda against the Matten Coven. I believe that he orchestrated this setup to frame Ezra. The vampire in question, Mr Aaron, is now dead, killed in a confrontation between the Matten Coven and the joint efforts of the Macmillan Coven and the Aaron Coven over an assignment given to Ezra Matten by Count Griffin from the City Lord."
The room erupted into murmurs. Macmillan's face went pale, and Sarah looked stunned. Target appeared bewildered, clearly caught off guard by what the captain was insinuating.
The Arbiter raised her hand, and the room fell silent once more. She turned her piercing gaze to Target. "Do you have anything to say in response to this new evidence?"
Target stammered, clearly struggling to find his footing. "I... I was not aware of this, Arbiter. This..." He glanced at his captain. "This changes everything."
The Arbiter nodded, her expression stern. "Indeed, it does. Captain Helena, your findings have provided crucial context to this case."
Thank the holy fuck. Ezra felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he remained composed. He knew this wasn't over yet, but they had made significant progress.
The Arbiter addressed the room. "Given the gravity of the charges and the new evidence presented, I will take the necessary time to review all information thoroughly. As always, we must ensure that justice is served, and no miscarriage of justice occurs."
She stood, her Aura still commanding the room. "The court is adjourned for now. We will reconvene once I have reached a decision."
As the Arbiter left the room, the tension began to ease. Ezra turned to look at Olivia and Gen, their faces reflecting their sense of relief. They had bought some time and had presented a strong case.
Macmillan and Sarah quickly exited, their earlier confidence shattered. Target followed, looking dazed and uncertain. Captain Helena gave Ezra a nod of acknowledgment before leaving as well.
Olivia and Gen quickly made their way over to Ezra, a smile on their faces. "We did it," Olivia said softly, her eyes shining with hope.
"That fucking bitch came through." Gen laughed in agreement.
"Let's not count our chickens before the eggs are hatched." Ezra nodded, his mind already thinking ahead. "Even if we're not out of the woods yet, we have a strong case now. The Arbiter needs time, but I believe she would rule in our favor."
**********
In an hour, the time for the final judgment arrived and they all returned to the courtroom. The Arbiter took her seat, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.
She addressed the room, her voice calm but authoritative. "After careful consideration of all the evidence, I have reached a decision."
The room fell silent, everyone holding their breath. Ezra felt a mixture of hope and anxiety, knowing that everything hinged on this moment.
The Arbiter continued. "The evidence presented has shown that the charges against Ezra Matten were based on falsified information. The evidence was manipulated, and the true perpetrator has been identified. Therefore, I find Ezra Matten not guilty of breaking the Law of Secrecy."
A wave of relief and joy washed over Ezra. They had done it. They had cleared his name and exposed the truth. He almost sank yo his knees in relief but stood strong. This is not the place or time to display weakness.
The Arbiter's eyes softened slightly as she addressed Ezra. "You are free to go, Ezra Matten. However, let this serve as a reminder of the importance of our laws and the vigilance required to protect our society. No one is exempt. Not even the council."
Ezra bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you, Arbiter. I will not forget."
The Arbiter stood and left, leaving different emotions in her wake. Ezra was now a free man. He stood and joined his wives. The battle was over but the war was still on. He watched as Macmillan hurried out of the room, face pale with fear.
"Let's get out of here." Ezra said. "I want a bottle of blood wine so bad right now."
"What do you think we're going to get?" Gen smirked. "First, it's a party, then after, we make them pay."
Ezra grinned. He didn't need to ask who the 'them' was.