“So were you. We all were. Now the world is a little safer.”
She moved around me to leave, appearing like she was ready to put the past behind her. For the first time in almost five years, so was I.
I turned my chair around, wheeling out of that courtroom with my head held high. I felt invigorated… almost like a new person. Takahashi approached, giving me a quick bow.
“Well done, Ava. Well done.” He gently clapped me on the back, and we proceeded out of the courtroom together, Oberi strolling forward proudly.
We met my family in the hallway. My mother and Alana gave me worried smiles, but Daddy fumed, his hands fisting in rage.
“Two years. What a fucking insult,” Daddy growled. “That bastard deserves a lifetime in hell for what he did to my daughter. I’ll be waiting outside the penitentiary the day he gets released, you can bet on that.”
“Liam, not now.” Mama laid a gentle hand on Daddy’s shoulder. His shoulders relaxed, and Mama turned toward me, holding her breath.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie. I know you wanted him to get more time,” Mama apologized.
A huge smile spread across my face. “No. This isgreat!”
“What?” Mama glanced at Daddy, clearly concerned.
“You guys don’t understand. I didn’t think he’d get any time atall,” I emphasized. “But peoplebelieveme! He actually got convicted and is serving time for what he did! The judge didn’t think I was a liar!”
“You’re right, Ava. He was held accountable, and for that, we need to celebrate,” Alana insisted.
The reporters pressed in, and Mama said, “Let’s get away from the press.”
The news media was already swarming the courthouse, trying to get me to do an interview. Daddy bullied them off, while Mama summoned a carriage.
There was a crowd around the courthouse, but they respectfully kept their distance. I waited by the fountain in the middle of the square, while Alana sat beside me. Oberi changed into a husky to frolic in the fountain, while Takahashi went to speak with my mother.
“Do you feel relieved?” Alana asked as her fingers skimmed the fountain’s edge.
“I feel… justified. Like the people in my tribe finally see me as something other than a monster,” I responded.
Alana seemed intrigued by the thought. Before she could respond, a screech rose over the square. Rosary stormed toward me, appearing absolutely deranged.
“You psychotic bitch!” Tears ran down her face and ruined her mascara as she directed her rage at me. “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’vedestroyedmy future!”
“You’re better off without him, Rosary,” I replied simply.
“I love him, and now we’re not going to be together, because you and a bunch of other sluts made up some bullshit!” Rosary sloppily wiped at her face, and her lip rose into a sneer. “Your whole family’s trash. I couldn’t be happier that I dumped Ez when I did. The idiot couldn’t even figure out the baby wasn’t his!”
Rosary could’ve punched me in the face and the effect wouldn’t have been as strong. I reeled in my chair. Rosary hadliedabout Ez being the father of her baby? I’d say I couldn’t believe it, but I hated her, and I knew she was the kind of person who would do such a thing.
Alana immediately jumped to her feet. Her face turned redder than her fiery hair as she exclaimed, “You cheated on my brother with John!?”
“Of course I did! It’salwaysbeen Johnny. I’ve wanted to be with himforever.I just told your moronic brother thathe’dgotten me pregnant, because Johnny didn’t want to be a dad and I knew Ez would step in to raise it,” Rosary sneered.
I glanced to the side and saw, with horror, that a full news crew was standing only a few feet away. The cameras were still rolling. They’d captured the whole thing live.
Ancestors, Ez was back at the Institute, and the trial had just gotten over with. I knew he had to be watching this. I couldn’t imagine what was going through his head right now.
“I hate you, Ava. You’re going to get what you deserve,” Rosary seethed. She reeled her hand back and used her Earth magic to rip out bricks from within the street. She hovered the stones in mid-air and sent them flying at me, straight for my head.
Oberi jumped out of the fountain to protect me, but he was still too far away. My hand twitched, and I almost called upon my magic, but a thought stopped me. If I messed up— if I even defended myself outside of Institute property— the Warden would use it as an excuse to send me to Cellblock 9 the moment I got back. I couldn’t use my powers, otherwise, I’d pay for it after I returned to the prison. I’d have to let Rosary hurt me.
Jets of water came shooting out of the fountain, forming a large, protective wall. The wall of water froze to ice instantly, stopping the flying bricks in their tracks. They fell to the ground, unable to penetrate the thick, icy shield.
I thought my magic had taken over without me attempting to command it, but a wave of surprise flooded through my body as I saw Alana standing before me, her chest heaving and her hands held out. She appeared absolutely enraged. She let her hands fall, and the wall of ice melted away, water flooding the city streets.
