Rebirth of the Seer Read Free Page A

and caring little if they did, “I hardly thought it fitting for there to be a trial without the defendant, though. If I have breached some form of etiquette, I trust you shall inform me.”
    “Damn it, Flynn, I told you to get away from here.”
    My gaze drifted toward Monica, spying two men standing behind her and blocking the closest exit. While they did not have her in their clutches, I could tell I entered just before she had been manhandled. “Now, my dear –” I paused halfway through the room to smile at her, despite the figurative flames of wr ath shooting from her eyes. “– Surely i t is bad luck to damn the damned. Besides, I am certain they wished me here inevitably, do you not agree?”
    Monica had no chance to respond. I turned to regard the others before she could so much as open her mouth. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I understand I have vexed you all in some manner or another.”
    Richard straightened in his chair, his posture turning rigid. “The Vampire Flynn,” he said. His voice took on an authoritative tone. “I must say, I’m surprised. I figured you’d be far away from here by now.”
    “I am certain cowards such as you think the rest of the world acts in kind, but such is not the case.” Advancing again , I closed the distance between me and the elders , stopping a few yards away from where they sat. I adjusted my tailored suit jacket , prompting some of the lingering glass shards to fall to the ground, and allowe d my hands to drop to my sides. “A person wi ser and fairer than me cautioned me to avoid these proceedings. I fear I have disappointed her.”
    My e yes found Monica once more . Time seemed to halt for half a second, long enough for me to remember our conv ersation from the night before. “ If they threaten action against us ,” she had said, “ I want you to get as far away from here as possible, with whatever you can carry on your back. Don’t come for me, just go .”
    “My apologies,” I said with a frown, “But I could not have them condemn you in my stead. If I am to fulfill my destiny, I shall not do so without your oversight.”
    She mirrored my frown, but did not answer. My attention shifted back to Richard while I squared my shoulders and stared intently at the Council elder. “So tell me, Richard, why is it that a death warrant has been issued against me? I wish to know what limited imagination you humans possess.”
    Richard glared, but held fast to his composure. “I doubt I have to remind you of your sins, Mr. Dawes. You are condemned by the – ”
    I held up a hand , stopping Richard. “You would do well to place that name back on the shelf. I might not be an assassin any longer, but I am no Peter Dawes. Flynn is the one you should be prosecuting.”
    “Very well.” Richard cleared his throat and visibly regrouped. “Vampire Flynn, you are condemned by the Supernatural Order for multiple offenses. For murdering a watcher and a Counc il elder while you were still a human. For slaughtering hundreds of souls within the space of five short years. And for using the gifts of a seer – gifts to be taken with gravity and decorum – for your wanton gain.”
    “And if this was where the story ended, I would save you the trouble and throw myself upon my sword as retribution.” I perked an eyebrow at him. “I have reformed my ways, though. Miss Alexander a ttempted to explain this and informed you I have been commissioned by The Fates to continue walking this path. Besides, the murder of Lydia Davies and her advisor was coerced from me by my former mistress.”
    “ So you claim. ”
    “ No, I assert. M y actions were my own when I murdered as a vampire, however . You see, this is what I find amusing.” I chuckle d , knitting my hands pensively behind my back while my feet commenced to pacing. I looked first toward the ground, then back to the human council. “The lot of you only imagines my atrocities while I relive them each time I pause