The justice was referring to Eilee, whom he’d left behind on the shore of the river leading to the innerlands of Hell. News of her death would not reach the heavens, for he was the only one who had seen her at her weakest, hanging on to her life by a thread. Certainly, rumors of her disappearance had already begun. But it was likely they would be about the madwoman who had taken him into the outerlandsof Hell, guiding him to Vera’s lair to rescue Kid.
The fates of so many of his friends were unknown to him since his arrest and imprisonment in the Embassy, a sanctuary created from what once had been the Great Library but was now used to maintain peaceful relations within Heaven and between all the realms. Since Trey’s crime had been committed on Earth, his trial was far more complicated than the immortals who committed some crime in the heavens, which is why it had taken them a few days—weeks, Earth-time—to get him into a hearing.
For most immortals, it would have taken far longer, as messengers between the realms and all parties involved in a crime like his were necessary to move messages between the Almighty’s forces and the Council. However, Trey knew his case had been expedited because he was considered of great importance to the Almighty, and no council or committee would dare stand in the way of the Almighty and his Treycore.
“The nature of these accusations,” the justice continued, “as well as your previous transgressions against the Almighty in conspiracy and illegally violating the treaties that prevent your presence in the mortal realm, require us to place you in the Nest until trial, which will be held tomorrow at noon.”
Tomorrow in the heavens was a week away by Earth standards.
“What about Kid?” Trey asked.
“I assume you are referring to the mortal, yes. He will accompany you in Heaven, where his fate will also be decided by the Council at the trial.”
“Send me all you want,” Treycore said, “but a mortal has no place in the Nest, and I think we both know he wouldn’t survive his time there, so you would be losing a valuable witness of the alleged incident.”
The justice glared between him and Kid, surely as disgusted as most immortals would be about his attraction, his appreciation of Kid.
“The Council would no more hear the testimony of a mortal than a cockroach.”
Treycore’s eyes settled on Kid, and he could see the worry in Kid’s eyes. And he should have been worried. Not just because immortals would have no justice for him, but the Nest being filled with such corrupt and violent immortals put him in great danger, greater danger than Kid could imagine. Danger Trey knew he’d have no way of protecting him from. Housing some of the most villainous criminals in the history of all creation, the Nest was no place for a mortal.
“Come along,” Treycore’s guard said. The two guards who had brought him in grabbed his arms as Kid’s guard seized him.
“We’re going to get out of this,” Treycore told Kid. “I promise you.”
But Trey feared the worst and that he wouldn’t be able to protect Kid until trial. That Kid might not even make it that far if Trey didn’t do everything in his power to keep him safe.
