Jaguar Moon ; Redemption

Nix's Trial

Madden portalled Layla and Aeobheann into the cylindrical spire where Nix was undergoing interrogation. Their footsteps echoed off the marble walls as they came to the entrance where the “Trial “ was being held.

Two huge guards stood on either side of the door, and Layla could hear the shouts and screams echoing from the room.

“Let them pass,” Madden ordered. “Yes, Ri,” they said in unison, as they stepped back, and opened the heavy doors.

Layla couldn’t believe her eyes, as she gazed at the utter chaos going on around her.

It was as if she was seeing it in slow motion; The room full of people screaming, jumping up and down.  Men and women, in all different types of clothes were pointing at each other, their animated voices pounding in her ears, as a man on a raised dais pounded a gavel against his desk.

“Stop this at once,” He yelled and the room quieted to whispers. Madden shook his head.

“Magistrate,” Madden’s booming voice caught everyone’s attention, and they all turned to him, “Control your courtroom at once, or I shall relieve you of your duty!” 

“Yes, sire,” The Old man lowered his head, seemingly ashamed of his inability to make the crowd behave.

Layla still couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Yes, she knew wolves were passionate and impulsive, but 

The sheer anger she felt from this crowd actually scared her. She tapped her leg, and Chalci appeared by her side.

“Stupid wolves,” she growled, as she stepped in front of Layla in a protective stance.

“Yeah, I know, we may have to get involved.”

“Fine by me,” Chalci purred, “I’ve been bored, princess, it’s time for some fun.”

“Why don’t we just kill him?” she heard a familiar voice say, “It’s what he deserves after what he did to us, to my mate!”

Aiden, the Alpha 

To the City Wolves stood up, his blue eyes blazing with anger.

“We can’t brother,” Adam, his younger brother yelled .”He has too much information.”

Layla looked around the room, to find Axel and Alex standing across from Aiden and Adam, both with pure anger in their eyes, and in the middle of the courtroom, shackled in silver and wolfsbane, stood Nix, who held his head high and his shoulders back.

His face was bloodied, with one eye nearly swollen shut, and his  bare back was covered in blood as well, from the stripes of a whip. His muscular arms were covered in bruises, from a beating, no doubt, that came from Axel’s visit to his cell.

“Don’t do anything rash, princess,” Aeobheann whispered in Layla’s ear, “I can heal him, but he needs to make it through this without your help, if he can.”

It wasn’t that Layla didn’t think Nix deserved to be punished, she just didn’t think seeing him like this would affect her so.

“What do I do?” she asked the queen.

“Stand back and let Madden and I calm everyone down.”

Layla looked up at the queen, and watched with amazement as Aeobheann opened her arms, and the whole courtroom was enveloped in white light. Everyone stopped and turned toward the king and queen, and finally quietened down.

Madden stepped upon the dais, and raised his hands, “May I remind you all that you are in my house,” he said in a commanding voice, “And you will go by my rules, after all, am I not your king?”

“Yes, sire, “Everyone said in unison ,including Axel and Aiden who both bowed to one knee.

“Our prisoner and guest,” Madden pointed to Nix, who was looking at the floor, “Was not supposed to be tortured, for he cannot lie, especially in the presence of his sister.”

“Layla,” Axel exclaimed, Looking very surprised as his mate stepped up on the dais with Madden’s prodding.

She glared at Axel, who gave her a guilty look.

“Princess,” Madden motioned her forward, and she looked around at all the people staring at her, including Nix, who seemed just as surprised as everyone else that she was there.

Layla closed her eyes as white light engulfed her, and she summoned the jaguar goddess.

Everyone stared open-mouthed as her golden armour engulfed her, and her eyes opened, glowing white. Her silver claws protracted, and she growled as she stepped off the dais, walking toward Nix, whose mouth was dropped open in pure astonishment. 

“Sister,” he bowed. Even he could not believe his eyes, as she walked in front of him. Short as she was, she seemed to stand tall, in her red and blue feathered headdress and golden armour, with her black jaguar at her side.

“It is true,” she said, her voice booming across the courtroom, “No one can lie in my presence, none of you.” She pointed around the room, and the whole crowd shuddered, save Axel, Madden and Aeobheann.

“If anyone of you would like to challenge my claim,” she said walking around Nix with Chalci walking beside her ,wrapping her tail around her leg ,”Come stand before me, and see what happens.”

Layla crossed her arms and watched with amusement as everyone in the room turned away, taking their seats, except Axel and Aiden, who were standing in the first place.

The magistrate banged his gavel again, clearing his throat, ”Now that we’ve all calmed down, can we please begin?”

An older man stepped forward, wearing a weathered suit and tie. “I am Nix’s council,” he said, ”Here to make sure he is treated fairly.”

“And who is here to make sure we are treated fairly,” Aiden replied through gritted teeth.

“Why you are,” Madden chuckled, ”After all you’re a lawyer, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but…”

“No buts, “ Layla yelled in an authoritative tone ,”You will get your chance at questions, but my brother, I mean Nix has been tortured enough.”

Layla felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to see Nix, who had his other hand clamped on her arm.

“There is no torture enough to be given to me to atone for my own crimes,” he confessed to everyone’s surprise. ”Now, I am here for questioning, can we please get on with it before my sister unleashes her power?”

“Nix,” the magistrate said ,”Do you admit to committing these crimes you are charged with?”

“Yes,” he answered, looking around the room. Even if he could, he wouldn’t lie about this, there was no point, after all he was guilty.

“And why did you do these vile things you are accused of?”

Layla bit her bottom lip. She knew from what her mother had told her that Nix was someone’s puppet, but would these people believe him, and even if they did, would it matter? She shook her head in doubt, but she, like everyone else, deserved the truth.

Nix took in a deep breath, “I was angry,” he said.

“And anger convinced you to take your brother’s mate, hide her for seven years, torture her, then try and kill your own sister?”

“Yes, your honor.”

“That’s all you’ve got?” his council asked ,raising his brow.

Nix shook his head and slumped his shoulders. The pain of his beating was weaning on him now, and he was getting tired.

“I was led to believe Layla was the cause of my mother’s death,” he finally admitted ,”And that Axel didn’t deserve to be alpha, both because he was younger, and my father father favored him.”

“And who led you to believe this?”

“The Council of Twelve."