"Motion accepted." Councilor Blaise finally speaks as he drops his gavel. The motion passes in a 4 to 3 vote.
It's done. The motion has passed, and Arwen will attend SinVail Academy. I have failed my father, and there is nothing I can do now.
"Fine," my father barks, displeased. "But if Miss Davies does not manifest a sin by the end of the year, she will not only be forced to leave the academy but also exiled from Vail itself, with no additional resources other than the clothes on her back. I will not continue to waste any resources on a sinless individual, regardless of whether sheis in the academy."
My father bangs the gavel again. No one will argue with him when the vote was so close that she could even attend.
He swiftly rises from his seat and walks down the center of the courtroom, through the benches, and out the door without looking at anyone. Without looking at me. His disappointment in me rings clear.
I will just tell him I couldn’t get past Councilor Blaise's mental shields. I'm sure that is what he thinks anyway, and there should be no way to prove me wrong. Which is good, because I'm pretty sure if my father ever found out that I betrayed an order, that he couldn't trust me, he would kill me himself.
5
Thou Shalt Not Panic in Public
Arwen
Iwatch the council start to file out of the room, but I can’t hear anything. I know there’s sound. I see people talking, papers shuffling, chairs shifting, but all I hear is my pounding pulse.
Am I in shock?I need to think over the facts. My brain needs to catch up with this moment. I’m not getting executed or getting exiled. I’m going to SinVail Academy. SinVail fucking Academy. Internally, I punch my fist in the air in triumph!
But wait… I might still get exiled. Exiled and with no resources thanks to that shriveled up asshole who walks around like he pisses gold.
Fuck. Ok, so I manifest a sin and live or I don’t and die. I guess not much has changed, but I have a year to digest this. A magnificent year at SinVail Academy. I had better make the most of it.
Dean Bellows finishes up her conversation with my faction lead and turns towards me. “It’s time to go.” She says. “Follow me.”
I stand up and turn to follow her out of the room. As I make my way towards the back of the courtroom, I spot a familiar face looking at me with disgust. Atticus.Shit!
He immediately looks away and doesn’t say a word to me as he packs up his briefcase. What is he doing here? How much did he hear?
As if she’s reading my mind, Dean Bellows says, “That’s Atticus Willshire, son of Councilor Willshire. He will be starting at the academy this year as well.” Councilor Willshire? I think to myself. As in Augustus Willshire?The cunt who just signed my death sentence?
Of course.Of course, the universe didn’t send me a tasty man to admire before I die. It sent me a reminder that my doom is imminent.
I can’t believe I wanted to lick his hand. I wish I could go back in time and break his fingers instead.
We exit the room, and I continue to follow Dean Bellows down the hallways leading to the exit.
“So, what happens now?” I ask.
Dean Bellows stops and turns to look at me, assessing me up and down like she’s asking herself if I’m worth that little mess back there. “Now, you go to the academy and you work your ass off. You attend all your classes, you keep your nose clean, you study hard and do everything in your power to manifest a sin.”
Easier said than done, I think, but nod anyway.
“Of course, Dean Bellows.” I say. “But what happens right now? How am I getting to the academy? I don’t even know where it is. I have no clothes, no supplies...”
“Stop.” Dean Bellows raises her voice, and I’m smart enough to shut my mouth.
“I’m only going to say this once, Miss Davies. I can appreciate a curious mind but do not have time for unnecessary questions. You will fly with me back to the academy. The academy will provide your supplies and clothing. These are justsomeof the resources that Councilor Willshire is so insistent that we are wasting. The academy has a required uniform, but you will be responsible for maintaining youruniform’s cleanliness. The academy will provide you with room and board. You will receive food and necessities. I will not lie, Miss Davies, you will be entering the academy with likely far less than others and you will be behind, not only because of your lack of sin but because it is blatantly obvious from your school records that your education was of little importance to your teachers. It’s going to be a long, hard year, Miss Davies, but I think you and I can both agree that it is better than exile. Yes?”
“Yes,” I squeak out.
“Good. Now, no more questions or speaking until we reach the academy. I have work to do, and this brief excursion of a trial has put me behind.”
Dean Bellows walks away and pulls out her cell phone, and I ensure I move to keep up.
Yikes.
