Page 155 of The Cannibal

The representatives switched to writing down their grievances or endorsements instead of yelling them.

All eyes turned to me.

Mr. Astor’s hadn’t looked away during the forced display.

“What say you to the crime of kin-killing?”

“Not guilty,” I said.

“Such a bold statement when the evidence is clear.” One of the representatives pointed to the jars of evidence.

“Is it a crime to eat flesh?” I asked.

They all stared.

The judge shifting as he stood. “No. But you are on trial for the killing⁠—”

“I did not kill her.”

More groans from the gallery.

“Miss Lis, the evidence is clear. You may want to make another argument,” he suggested. Somehow it seemed empathetic.

All eyes on me.

The representatives shot glances to one another. Their faces communicating something like irritants and haste. Did they want this trial over so soon? Supposedly they all agreed to entertain Levi’s contract. All of them were rats, corrupted puppets pretending to uphold civility and justice.

“May I make a character statement?” I asked.

They looked to one another before nodding.

“If you must,” the judge droned.

I clasped my hands in my lap, leaning forward against the table all three of us sat behind.

“Years ago I was lucky enough to make something special,” I began, glancing at the witnesses crowding behind the representatives. Mary chewed her nail as she held John’s wheelchair. He looked like he was able to move his head and arms now. The face of distress was no match for his paralysis, it was all in his eyes. “I formed my own Nest, not unlike this one. A self-sustaining collection of brilliant women, Hosts and Vipera. During that time, I learned much about leadership, diplomacy, and most importantly, sacrifice.”

While the representatives did not appreciate the stalling, there was a softening of the other curious faces. One of which I spotted was Elijah Johnson standing by. Even when he was most critical of me when we met, clearly he did not see eye to eye with Soros’s plan—or else he would have met the same fate. Something brought him to observe. Even if it was a small gesture, it gave me hope that people would hear me, even if they were repulsed by me.

“We lost good people.” I swallowed, glancing at Mary. “We lost a bright girl named Adeline. And it was my fault. I waited too long to accept help from others, something that would not only isolate myself, but others.” I looked back to the judge. “Edith Friedman was a member of our Nest exhibiting concerning behaviors. I thought she was bright, very curious. But just like I failed Adeline who had been eaten by the feral cases of the area, Edith was failed too. If I had caught on earlier, they both would still be here.”

“What is the point of this?” A representative raised his hand, arguing with the judge.

“Edith is the reason I was reborn as I am now,” I stated plainly, “after I took a knife in my stomach that was meant for Phoebe.”

Levi’s eyes snapped to me.

“I tell you this to appeal to the claim that I am some mindless, uncontrollable monster.” I made an effort to make eye contact with all who dared. “I would never intentionally hurt someone. Phoebe meant a great deal to me, more than anyone in this world. We have been nearly inseparable since birth.”

I lifted my hands from my lap, resting them on the table.

The gold posey band was stacked on my finger, next to the engagement ring.

“Thank you for your statement.” The tall, dark man nodded. “Sir Astor?”

“I think we all have good intentions. We are very few, the Vipera as a species. So I must emphasize that everything I do is to benefit us all, as a whole.” Levi stood from his seat, buttoning his jacket as he affixed a smile to his face. “I’m happy to announce that a deal has been struck outside of the current litigation.”

The judge seemed caught by surprise, but not because it seemed uncommon. Probably due to such easy forgiveness of such a crime.