Break the Walls of Ignorance

[Requiem of Insanity]

“Come right this way,” Cassandra sighed heavily as her left shoulder was pushed forwards against her will. Her arms and feet were locked together by a barely loose chain that restricted her movements making her feel trapped like a bird in a cage. She turned back to see the rookie guard of the prison, seeing his blue eyes tremble in fear as he pretended to be strong. It was clear he was terrified walking amongst the screams of all these hardened criminals. Some called out to him for his blood, others asking how his mother was doing. Some even went so far as to proposition him for sexual needs. “You are being taken to interrogation cell number four.” he spoke to break the tension that was building within him.

“What fucking good does it do me to know which cell I’ll be interrogated within you worm?” Cassandra chided. “I’m in a prison with a group of homicidal sociopaths. I couldn’t possibly care less which room I’m in. It’s the room I have to share a bunk mate with.” She grinded her teeth. “Fucking moron.”

“Whatever bitch, you’re the one who did wrong.” The guard mouthed as he shoved her forward towards an iron door. She was stopped before the door where a large black guard stepped up to her and began to frisk her.

“Gods be damned,” Cassandra seethed. “Must you always pay special attention to my ass you perverted piss ant!” The guard looked to the rookie with a grin and a wink before looking back to her.

“It’s procedure,” he gave her a toothy grin. “And there is no shame in enjoying my job.” Cassandra sighed to herself as the door opened with a long metallic groan. She was escorted to a thin metal table where she was placed on a heavy oak chair with rusted iron O rings. They took her chains and bound them through before locking them making her movements in the chair restricted.

She looked around the room taking stock of the few things that moved. A ceiling fan rotated haphazardly, the base rotating as well disrupting the effects of the air flow. Their was a pitcher for water on the table and a nicer iron door on the opposite side of the room Cassandra entered in. Within moments the door opened, a tall slender woman about the age of thirty seven walked towards Cassandra and sat down.

“My name is Agatha Desmond. I will be the D.A. assigned to this case. Legally before I can proceed I have to let you know that you have a right to legal council to represent you within the courtroom and to help you with proceedings like we are about to have. You have this right anytime during your trial and may ask for representation at any moment. Do you have a question at this time?”

“You one of those, ‘I never get laid, ever,’ chicks?” Cassandra gave her a devilish smile of intent. Agatha rolled her eyes and opened her folder. She went through some of the documents before she stopping on a salvarian medical folder. She peaked inside and closed it.

“Alright, save us all the grief and the agony of a lengthy trial. Admit to me you did it.” Cassandra shook her head in defiance, a shit eating grin covering her lips.

“Nuh uh-uh!” she ticked her tongue. “I didn’t give you an answer to legal council. You begun without my consent.” Agatha snorted in laughter.

“Please, Cassandra. This is idle chit chat, and no judge is going to declare otherwise. So keep your petty tricks for the minor leagues. Now declare a legal council at this moment or decline it at this time. Decide now because I have a mountain of evidence to prove your guilt.”

“You ever have any regrets?” Cassandra asked innocently. “Sending good people to jail, or defending the wrong from their punishments?” Agatha felt her spine tingle in fear, and she called for the guards. A guard walked in with a doctor, and she opened the file of Cassandra’s medical history. The doctor whispered into her ear, which made her laugh to herself in mirth.

“Cassandra it seems according to Doctor Nathaniel Hunnicut of the Salvarian Insane Asylum you have rare complex with a dark companion an unnatural ability to create a wave of ‘dread’ wherever you tread. This is deemed hostile and as such we are allowed to pacify you for this. Doctor, the shot please?” Cassandra’s eyes opened wide as she looked to the D.A.

“What’s this shot going to do to me?” Cassandra shouted. The doctor inserted the metal point into her upper arm, injecting a clear liquid into her body.

“This will suppress your mind making you fully aware, but feel distant from your body. In all intents of purposes you are now numb to feeling.” Cassandra felt her head feel fuzzy, and she reached out for darker ambitions. To her shock he couldn’t feel anything.

“I want my legal council now.” Cassandra said in a daze. “You can’t keep me on this forever.” Agatha shrugged indifferently as she passed over a sheet of paper with names.

“Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? Pick a name, any name to help speed up this trial and get you where you belong.” Cassandra looked to the list, and she looked towards the bottom of the names.

When her eyes settled upon one she heard a dark chuckle come from behind her ear, the same calming chuckle her dark ambitions made when she was stuck, to aid her in her choice. She gave a very tired looking smile of satisfaction. “That one.” She said with determination. “Visla Layne Eraclaire.”

[Visla Eraclaire]

I'd like to go on the record to whoever reads this saying that writing a legal drama was, in fact, not my idea. Hope you like technicalities!

Terrible experiences pose the riddle whether the person who has them is not terrible.

The thin, paper bound book was heavily creased. Since she left Uiria with a satchel of similar curiosities, Visla had taken to reading at least one aphorism a day. Today's seemed particularly apt to her situation in life. Despite her early skepticism, she began to wonder whether there was something to this man's writings after all.

"Aelva, you really should read this," she came over and interrupted the succubus as she was examining a series of notes scrawled in her own hand concerning a spell.

"I think I'll leave the philosophy to you, Vis. Life is what it is. If a few pithy phrases make you feel better about it, I'm happy for you, but don't forget that man isn't even writing about our world," she replied without looking up.

"But that's what's so fascinating about it. Everything he says is as true here and now as it was then and there. Perhaps it is even more true, given the reception he received in his own time," Visla retorted, pushing the parchment down from Aelva's face to look her in the eyes.

"I'll make you a deal. If will look for my notation on the dimensions of the circle for this ritual, I will read your dead man's words," Aelva said, passing the papers to Visla with a smile.

She took them handily and placed the book in Aelva's lap, returning to lay in bed. The mattress was still new and a little stiff. Since returning the Radasanth, Visla had spent almost all her money re-furnishing her small apartment to accommodate both herself and Aelva. As it was, they were scraping bottom in terms of monetary reserves. Still, for the moment, entertainment was free and only Visla ate, and at that very little. By her estimates, they could make it for a week or so before she'd have to admit to Aelva that they were broke.

A few minutes into Visla's search of the notes, a rapping came at the door.

"Hm, I wasn't expecting anyone," Visla said, putting down the notes and walking cautiously toward the door.

"If one has character one also has one's typical experience, which recurs repeatedly," Aelva quoted and then placed the book on her lap and looked toward the doorway.

Visla opened it and was faced with a courier boy carrying a very heavy piece of parchment, embossed with an official Coronian seal.

"Visla Layne Eraclaire, you are hereby served with this notice," he said, stumbling somewhat over the formality in attempting to recite the tract from memory. "Whereupon receipt of this, you shall be summoned to the High Court on the morrow for proceedings as detailed herein. Act in accord with all requirements forthwith, under penalty of law."

She snatched the document and slammed the door, perusing it carefully. It was halfway down the page before she reached anything beyond mere introductory formalities. The calligraphic lettering and drawn out prose almost buried the substance of the notice.

'You are hereby appointed by This Court as Counsel of Record for one Cassandra Remi.'

Visla had so many questions and complaints, she wanted to scream, but she managed to get one out of her lips before her teeth clinched, "It doesn't even say what she's charged with!"

Aelva stood up with immediate interest and read the document over Visla's shoulder as she seethed. "Isn't the larger problem that you aren't a lawyer?"

Visla sighed and released the tension in her jaw. "I know enough about the law to know that technically I am. It's a throwback to more feudal times. My uncle, my father's younger brother, didn't inherit the family lands, but instead he inherited one of the privileges – right to stand and argue at law and equity."

"You can't be serious. The legal profession is hereditary? Vis, even the Nine Hells have specialists for that."

"I doubt you'll see another person at the courthouse practicing under the privilege. Most lawyers now are professionals, trained and certified by the State, but my right is still technically valid. Uncle died childless, so it went to father, he died, so it should go to his youngest heir, but Alis is a clergywoman, so it goes to me," Visla found the logic of it inescapable. "Still, that doesn't explain how a woman I've never heard of hired me."

"I suppose they keep a list of these things. She must really be quite guilty to hire a stranger," Aelva smirked.

"This isn't a joke. I'll go down to the court and have this straightened out. I'm not qualified for this at all," Visla said with finality and grabbed her cane from beside the door. Aelva followed behind her, down the streets and through the crowds. From the bustle of the commercial district, they came into the quiet sanctity of a ministerial area. The large stately structure of the courthouse rose from a sea of smaller buildings and declared its utter dominance with a mighty colonnade and steep stone steps.

Visla climbed up to the entrance with difficulty with Aelva waiting to catch her should she fall. Ultimately, it wasn't necessary, and Visla found herself in a small room with a black robed, elderly, and above all tired man. The duty judge stared down at her as the slapped the summons onto the lectern.

"Your honor, I am Visla Eraclaire, appearing by Hereditary Right before this court on a motion to quash this summons issued to me and remove my name both as Counsel of Record to a Ms. Remi and from whatever roll lead me to be selected in the first place."

The man took a sip of water and gestured toward Aelva. "And who's she? Ms. Remi?"

"No, your honor, this is… my legal assistant. I have not even met Ms. Remi. I've never heard of her before."

The judge began to look even more dissatisfied, glancing over at a mechanized timepiece on the wall – late afternoon. "Proceed then, what is your cause for this motion?"

"Your honor, as a hereditary attorney, I'm abjectly unqualified for this appointment. It had not come to my attention that the right had fallen to me until I received this summons. Furthermore, I do not know what my client is even charged with, but if it is anything more serious than public nuisance, she deserves proper representation, not the improvisation of an amateur," Visla replied, with a striking degree of confidence in her words. She gripped the lectern in front of her tightly as she spoke.

"While I recognize that the hereditary right is an archaic one, the fact remains that the State has few lawyers available for appointment. You seem to be capable enough to me. You aren't stammering. You know the proper forms of address. Hell, you managed to get in here and make this motion. You're not going anywhere Miss Eraclaire," he glanced down at some paperwork and then continued. "In fact, your client is waiting for you in Counsel Room C, down the hall. You might want to go speak with her."

Visla clinched her teeth again and bowed politely. "Very well, your honor," she muttered, choking back bile. She and Aelva hurried out of the chamber, but were interrupted before they reached the door.

"Ah, and the charge by the way is Murder."

[Requiem of Insanity]

“Step lively.” The guard said in his usual tough act manner. Cassandra woozily sauntered forward, her body numb to everything. Without the ability to feel her steps were clunky and awkward as they marched down the gang way. So far two inmates, both woman, had jumped her. In the scuff she was unable to move fast enough to fend them off and came out with a minor bruise around her face and she was sure her arm was in worse condition than she could see. But the worst of it all was Cassandra couldn’t feel the dark ambitions of her twisted ambitions. Without his cold hand to guide her she was getting restless.

“What room we going to?” she asked with a slight slur.

“Thought you didn’t give two shits about the room you were in,” the guard pushed her forward causing her to fall to her knees. “Come on you stupid bitch!” He lifted her up by her shoulders and walked with her. “Damn, how much drugs did they pump you with?” Cassandra laughed slightly.

“The D.A. wants me pumped with a shot every hour. You know,” she mused. “Just to be Safe.” She looked up to see the rusty door that led to her observatory room and her chest lifted in a giant sigh of irritation. How the hell did I screw up this badly? she thought as the metal groaned loudly. She was scooted in, strapped to her chair, and then left alone. When the door slammed shut the other opened, and she looked up to see who it was.

Another guard walked in, dropping off a few file folders as he arranged them on the table with a compulsive need to align it all straight. Cassandra lifted her hand up and dropped it onto the table with a thunk sound. The guard looked to her with a wary eye, and with all her might she shoved the corner of the folder a teeny bit to knock it out of alignment. The guard gave her a crossed look as he adjusted it back to its original position. She grunted forcing with her will for her fingers to flex and knock the folder over the table, spilling the papers.

“Fucking bitch!” The guard leaned over scooping up the papers. He shuffled them on the desk all back to their original state before placing the folder back on the table. It was difficult, but she managed to knock the folder out of position. “Quit it.” the guard warned with a stern look. Cassandra just smiled to him as she waited for him to fix the folder. He looked to it, and then back to her shaking his head. He was about to walk away and leave when she spoke softly.

“It’s not in alignment.” the guard touched the knob, but waited for a moment before cussing a small storm turning on his heel and fixing the folder. With a satisfied smile he nodded to her and walked out of the room. Ugh, that was about thirty seconds of my life I’ll never get back… she leaned in the chair for comfort, when the door burst open again.

A pale skinned petite woman smaller than Cassandra walked into the interrogation room, her umber brown hair excellently parted along her scalp allowing her intent filled hazel eyes to scan the room uninhibited. She noticed the cane immediately as it gently made a cracking sound along the ground. She sat in the chair with a grunt of irritation as the bone crafted cane haphazardly tilted towards the table where it leaned. There was another who looked for a seat, but upon not finding one leaned against the wall behind the woman who immediately looked to Cassandra with a loathing that she was impressed to be a part of.

“Hello.” Cassandra said cheerfully to break the tension. The woman before her stared Cassandra down, her eyes scanning each detail of her body and filing it away in the annals of her mind. “Nice weather.”

“It’s a little cloudy for my taste.” the woman leaning against the wall muttered. Cassandra looked to her and shrugged.

“Everyday is a sunny day in this useless dump.” She could feel a certain twinge in her mind, some kind of connection to the creature that leaned against the wall. She damned the drugs she was on for clouding her ability to connect with people like herself. It was a unique ability she had to be able to see the darkness in those around her. And she wished she had it now, but with the drugs fogging her brain she just gave up altogether. Besides, she had business to attend to.

“Hello.” Cassandra said again, a bit louder. The woman snorted her contempt as she looked to the person behind her, who shrugged indifferently pointing to the folder on the table. She returned to the table, her hand grazing the thin material. “Hmm, I know that face.” Cassandra whispered loudly. “It’s the face of contempt, of regret, of agitation. You are so not wanting to be here. And your attitude clearly tells me your hearts not in this either.” she sighed looking at the folder. “You feel like if you open that folder your committed, that you don’t have any choice but to see this out. I bet your smart, very smart. You came down to this dump and asked to be removed from the case. The uncertainty, that brief glimmer of unknowing in the corner of your eyes tells me your not even sure what the hell your doing.” Cassandra leaned back.

“She’s observant,” the wall leaner muttered in mild surprise. The woman at the table however kept her cool. As she looked into Cassandra’s eyes. Soon her lips started to move before she stopped. She looked to the pitcher of water and made herself a glass. She politely pointed to Cassandra, who shook her head.

“No thank you,” Cassandra said politely. “I can’t hold anything in this state. They have me drugged up at the current moment to the point where I can’t even feel my toes moving in my boots. It’s a feeling I’ve grown to miss.” The woman sipped her water leaning back in her chair. The wood creaked as she did so, and Cassandra smiled to her. “You want to know why.” it wasn’t even a question in the way she said it.

With a hesitant nod the woman looked to Cassandra. “It was one of my top three questions I wanted to ask you.” she admitted sipping more water. Cassandra sighed as she looked around the room at the grey walls.

“Well, I looked at all the names, which by the way there were not many of, and picked one.”

“Chance.” she said lightly. “No different than putting my name into a hat and pulling it out.” Cassandra gave her a slight nod, but then shook her head.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I felt some connection to you. When my eyes scrolled across your name I heard something whisper in my ear. It was a seductive, entrancing tone that enticed me. Your special, because you got the attentions of my Dark Companion.”

“Dark Companion?” she asked leaning her body forward ever so slightly in interest. Cassandra had to admit, this woman was one of the best verbal jousting partners she had ever met. Cassandra sighed in pleasure like she was remembering a fond memory.

“It’s my inner darkness, my twisted ambitions made manifest. It’s the best way to explain it psychologically. However, to me he’s a real entity. A dutiful dark devoted lover who aids me, guides me, protects me. I usually can feel him hold me, his cold hands warming my bones. I love him and he loves me. Do you love anything like that?”

“Can’t say I do,” she said with a neutral face. Cassandra couldn’t tell if she was lying or being serious. She was good. “Okay, flat out Cassandra Remi.” She said with as straight a face as possible. “You do know your on trial for murder, right?” Cassandra nodded.

“Yup.” she said with a satisfied tone. “So what do you say, you going to look into that folder and seal your fate, Visla Eraclaire?” Cassandra leaned all the way back in her chair, waiting to see what her next move was. “Or you going to pass up this opportunity of a life time?”

[Visla Eraclaire]

The opportunity of a lifetime, it wasn't. Still, Visla knew that her compensation for the task would be enough to make due for a few more months. As ways of making money went, untrained lawyering seemed like a fairly decent one. She opened the folder and looked through the notes.

There were psychological reports, official documents for the woman's seizure and incarceration, and very scant discussion of the crime itself. It seemed the State was confident that whatever jury they put this woman in front of would convict without a second thought. Having listened to her for but a few minutes, Visla had a hard time arguing with that presumption.

Seeing her frustration, Aelva leaned in and suggested something with a whisper in the ear, “Why not engage co-counsel?”

It took the warlock a few moments before she realized the thrust of her companion's suggestion. It was simultaneously not a bad idea and perhaps one of the worst ideas ever vocalized. Still, it was an excuse to take a short break. She took some blank pages from the end of the file and turned to Aelva.

“Do you have something to write with?”

“I have two things to write with, but I think you'll be needing one,” the succubus grinned, and produced a wrapped piece of charcoal. “She can have this one.”

Visla placed the pages and chalk in front of her client. “I'm going to take a moment next door. Just write down everything you can tell me about the situation. Anything you think can help, write it. About the crime, about you, about anything the State has done to you, I need to know it,” she said firmly and added as she opened the door. “I'll be right back.”

There was a guard still waiting outside the door as Visla came out. She turned to him innocently and asked, “Is there a washroom in this building?”

He scowled a bit by the warlock's very association with the defendant, but pointed her down the hall just the same. Visla and Aelva made their way inside before discussing the plan further.

“So, let me make sure I have your suggestion correct. You want me to draw a spell circle and summon him to help us with this?” Visla inquired, after determining they were alone in the room.

“Devils are notoriously good at dealing with laws. It's right in their wheelhouse,” Aelva replied flippantly.

“You realize what happened last time. I have no doubt he can help, but what town will he obliterate this time? Hopefully not Radasanth, I really like our apartment,” Visla warned.

“It is rather nice now that you've fixed it up.”

“So we're agreed. No summoning Nerevar?”

With that a sudden scent of sulfur drifted through the air. From one of the stalls behind them, a roar of thunder and a streak of red light issued from behind the door. It swung open with a bit of rolling smoke and the tall, regal figure of a tiefling stepped forth.

“I believe I heard my name,” he said with a grin.

“This is another thing they're very good at,” Aelva added with a laugh.

“I see that our last transaction has come out quite satisfyingly for you,” he added, leering at the succubus, his fiendish eyes piercing the human illusion and admiring her true form's abyssal beauty.

“Yes,” Visla added with a dejected huff. “How did things turn out for you?”

“Not so well. As it turns out, the woman I saved from that dreadful cathedral despises me for having put her through all of that. I killed her,” he rattled off without much concern.

“Always dreadfully honest, devils really are a delight to deal with,” Aelva chimed in.

“Would you and he like to get a room, dear?” Visla snarled.

“I'm just saying--”

“Speaking of rooms,” Nerevar interrupted. “Did you summon me into a ladies restroom?”

“Technically, we decided not to summon you into a ladies restroom and then you showed up anyway,” Visla corrected him, making her way toward the door. “Come on Aelva, maybe our client is done writing.”

“Client, you say? Wait a minute, I know where we are. Coronian courtroom, am I right?” the tiefling intoned slyly.

“Yes,” Visla said with another displeased sigh.

“Then whatever you're doing, I'll help you out of pure delight. Even devils need a diversion, and the courtroom is the ultimate amusement,” the man cackled.

He accompanied the pair of women back to the interview room, drawing a strange look from the guard, as they arrived. He simply gave an elegant bow and stepped in with no further objection.

[Requiem of Insanity]

Charcoal and paper. That was the woman’s offer. A piece of charcoal, and a piece of paper. Not to mention the charcoal was rock like to make it painfully annoying to write with. She sighed as she fudged with her fingers to grab the charcoal. The numb sensation made it impossible to get a decent grip. She tried to write her name, but couldn’t finish the curve of the ‘C’ before it dropped onto the ground below. Seething her frustration she sat back looking upwards towards the ceiling. It had a nice air duct with a fan to circulate the new air in and recycle the old air out. It was also too small to be of any use for escaping.

“Oh my love…” Cassandra whined in a defeated tone, her head bouncing upon her chest. The door opened, and she looked to see her lawyer, her friend, and some new being enter. Her body went hay wire with this particular newcomer. She couldn’t place it thanks to her drugs, but he exuded darkness that she could taste in her mouth. She licked her lips and waited for the door to shut. “You have a lot of friends don’t, you Visla.”

“I see nothing on your paper.” She commented irritably sitting down. The newcomer poked his head out and asked for a chair, which was promptly brought by the guard who looked into the fast crowding room. When the door shut the dark creature and Visla sat across from Cassandra, the earlier companion to Ms. Eraclair leaned against the wall with her arms held across her chest. She seemed smitten.

“Well, as I had told you before you,” Cassandra lowered her gaze a bit. “I’m fucking drugged up to the point I can’t feel. You ever tried to write with a numb arm and fingers?” Visla sighed as she bent over and picked up the charcoal. She grabbed the paper and brought it over to her and said in a very distinct tone,

“Start.” Cassandra sighed leaning back.

“Who is it that they think I killed?” she asked. The dark arriver looked through the papers grinning looking to Cassandra.

“Ms. Rhianna Phoenix (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18961). High profile city council woman in Carthage and ambassador from the their lands. Seems you tortured her to death, along with her personal body guard Garth. The pictures from the crime scene are very…detailed.” He lifted one to Visla, who took a glance and lifted her hand pushing it away.

“Ugh, with just one picture the jury will find you one twisted individual, and what about your medical history (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19647)?”

“I have been deemed insane by the Salvarian Insane Asylum, by my doctor, Nathaniel Hunnicut.”

“It states in his doctor’s notes that she was brought in after…a murder of some twisted kind.” he looked through the pictures. “Damn thorough, that’s for sure.” Cassandra beamed with pride. Visla began to to rub her temples.

“Now we have a pattern, modis operandi, plus proof you are capable of murder. Even better, okay what about the murder weapon, what’s in the reports there.”

“A knife, a bloody cooking knife.” the man said coolly.

“That’s where I left my paring knife!” Cassandra wished she could snap her fingers, but instead just moved upwards in her seat. “Do you think I could get that back?”

“You own the murder weapon. Brilliant!” Visla was fast losing her patience as sarcasm began to ooze from her words like a thick honey. “Let me guess, twelve witnesses?”

“No,” the man said. Both looked to him. “Try seventy.”

Visla and Cassandra both blinked as the leaning woman poked her head forward in interest. Visla cleared her throat before speaking. “Seventy witnesses?” she barely whispered.

“Yup.” he said indifferently. Cassandra slammed back into her chair in disbelief. “The servants of the house all can place Cassandra at the scene of the crime. All seventy stories are consistent with each other as well. Cassandra grabbed a key to the treasury, opened it, and told the servants to take the money and leave the mansion.”

“This has got to be a nightmare.” Visla groaned rubbing her temples harder trying to will all the evidence away. Cassandra took a big gulp as she looked to her lawyer.

“But…there has to be some flaws in this evidence…” the man nodded.

“Sure, lots of them!” he said flipping a page before his eyes widened. “Well, until you were Rhianna’s personal servant, that is.” Visla looked to Cassandra with glaring eyes.

“Motive.” she said plainly. “Time, placement, witnesses, murder weapon, modis operandi, previous violent history, and now motive. Congratulations Ms. Remi, just showing up in court is enough to find you guilty!”

“But, it’s all faulty isn’t it?” Cassandra pleaded. “Come on, something must be in there to prove my innocence.” The man looked through a list of names tossing the paper in front of Cassandra.

“Look at those names, and tell me any that you can give me dirt on.” She looked down the list and stopped at one name in particular. She looked to the name and her heart began to feel heavy as tears welled up in her eyes. The man looked to her and looked to the paper. “Who’s Kane Kucan?” he said softly.

“An old friend…” Cassandra said trying not to choke on her tears.

“Can he help you?” Visla asked curiously. Cassandra nodded as she forced her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. She began to curse her own human emotions damning the drugs in the process. She started to get irritated and angry, her own dark companion trying to calm her with words, but without his touch she couldn’t find any solace in them. Soon she began to grow frustrated with herself and shoved the papers all away in a tantrum. “Cassandra!” Visla said sternly as the other on lookers took one small step back. “Get a hold of yourself!” she said more loudly.

“FUCK THESE DRUGS!” Cassandra bellowed as she fought against her chains. Her wrist and feet began to bleed but she didn’t seem to mind considering she couldn’t feel the pain. “Damn these human emotions! I don’t want them, I don’t need them! Gods be damned, I hate you Kane for making me feel this way!”

“Cassandra!” Visla said with all her authority standing up and slamming her hands on the table for dramatic effect. “Get a grip or this meeting is over!” Cassandra puffed her anger, rage taking over her clouded thoughts as she continued to fight what bound her. Then, to everyone’s surprise the woman leaning against the wall spoke up.

“You loved him.” She said quietly. Cassandra stopped in her tracks as the other two looked to her, then to Cassandra who began to sniffle again. “He wasn’t just a friend to you,” She moved forward between Visla and the newcomer. “Yet you couldn’t tell him that. Not with the way you are and the way you live. You didn’t think he could accept you.”

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Cassandra warned, but her threat was not reviewed well as she choked on her own tears.

“Your dark companion, the one you spoke of earlier. He didn’t approve of your love for him either. But you instead chose Kane, didn’t you?” she continued.

“You think you got this all figured out, huh?” Cassandra said in hysterics. “Well then, detective, tell me why I killed him?” Visla sighed as she pushed her friend back gently.

“I think today has exhausted all we’re going to get. We’ll pick up tomorrow.” she grabbed her cane and the man folded up all his papers tucking them under his arm. “Cassandra, this is Nerevar, he is going to co council with me on this case.” Cassandra nodded as she coughed trying to being herself back together.

“Charmed.” She lied. “Sorry for being a complete wreck in front of you.” He lifted a hand up wiping the air.

“Please, no matter. Look,” he said leaning in. “It may seem hopeless, it may even seem like a case where it won’t matter what we say, but trust me when I say it’s not over yet. Somewhere in these folders is your innocence, and I plan to prove it.”

“But…I did do it, you can’t be blind to that.” Cassandra whispered so only he could hear. Visla looked intrigued by the two talking, but made no motion to interrupt. She looked to Nerevar’s eyes, which glinted for a moment.

“Oh believe me, Ms. Remi,” he said laughing softly. “I knew that the second we walked through the door.” he patted her shoulder and turned to the door motioning for everyone to leave. Cassandra looked to her legal counsel and sighed as the heavy metal behind her began to groan loudly as the guards walked in to take her away.

“Time for your cavity search.” the large guardsman said. “You know how it is…rules and regulations.”

[Tainted Bushido]

Closed and moved by request.