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“A portal to the Abyss,” I said. “The priestesses summoned a demon and made a deal to find the rest of the Oaken Wands. They knowingly allowed the demon to kill Professor Perez, Lena Hahn, and several others in The Hearse Tragedy.”
“Objection!” Olivia shouted.
“He’s lying!” Priestess Lilian shot out of her chair and pointed an ugly finger at me.
The courtroom burst into protests, louder than before. My ears rang, and the jury shot nervous glances at one another.
“Where’s the evidence!?” Margaret shouted. “They’re liars!”
The judge smacked her gavel, and this time, no one quieted at all.
“We want to see the evidence!”
“Burn them for their lies!”
“Lucas, can you identify the demon?” Verla asked, but she couldn’t be heard over the uproar. I never would’ve known what she was saying if we hadn’t rehearsed the questions.
“This charade has gone on long enough!” Priestess Lilian shouted. “It’s time to read their sentence.”
“Tell us the truth!” someone shouted. “Have you unleashed a demon upon the coven?”
People started moving forward, demanding answers. Priestess Lilian took a step back, fear in her eyes. I’d never seen her look so scared. Everyone shouted over one another, some of them searching for my blood, and others demanding the priestesses tell the truth.
Bang!
The doors to the courtroom burst open. At first, I thought it was the mob from outside finally breaking through. I never would’ve predicted what happened next.
“I have the evidence you’re looking for!” Talia yelled above the protests.
The courtroom quieted, and all eyes turned to her. Slowly, three figures entered the room behind her—Grant, Miles, and Professor Warren. He’d found them in one piece, thank the Goddess. Miles turned back and gestured someone forward.
“It’s okay. They’re waiting for you,” he said. He held out his hand, and to the astonishment of everyone in the room, a ghostly figure appeared. She wore a long black cloak and had dark curls framing her young features.
Priestess Stella.
The room fell dead silent. It was eerie, because even the protests outside could no longer be heard. Every member of the coven had been struck silent by the dead priestess’s appearance.
“I am here to testify the truth,” Stella announced in her ghostly form.
Nobody moved. We all watched as Priestess Stella floated down the aisle and turned to the crowd in front of the judge’s table. Lilian’s jaw dropped, and she watched on incredulously. Claudia kept throwing glances around the room, like she couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I am Priestess Stella Jones, witness to my own death,” she announced. “I am here to tell you that Lucas Taylor did not kill me. My death was an accident. There is corruption among the Imperium Council. This corruption existed when I served as priestess, and it persists now. I was the one manufacturing nightshade, and I framed others for my crimes. I’m telling you this because I see more clearly now where this corruption is headed, and I know now that the coven will fall if it continues.”
She turned to the jury. “The priestesses forced Nadine and Lucas to lie about my involvement with nightshade in order to protect themselves, but I was guilty all along. And I’m guilty of one other thing… The priestesses have every intention of obtaining the Oaken Wands to control your magic. They will claim they want to restore your magic, but they are lying. Nadine and Lucas have been trying to prevent these dark dealings—”
“They weren’t trying to save the coven!” Priestess Lilian barked, finally recovering from her initial shock. “They’re trying to destroy it! This is a deception! Ghosts can’t legally testify. They’re confused. She doesn’t understand what she’s saying!”
Margaret was quick to agree, pointing a finger at Talia. “You put these ideas in her head. You manipulated her. Stella is stuck here. You promised her that the Reaper’s Apprentice would help her cross over if she said what you wanted.”
Olivia shot out of her chair. “I make a motion to remove this testimony from the record and to hold these four in contempt of court!”
She pointed to our friends and Professor Warren.
“I’m telling the truth!” Stella insisted. “I came here to set things right—”
Stella’s words were cut off as she let out a guttural cry of pain. I shot out of my chair and glanced around the courtroom. What the hell was happening? Ghosts weren’t supposed to be able to feel pain.
The screaming continued, echoing off the walls. Stella’s back arched, and she wore an agonizing expression.
