Part 23 (1/2)
Richard stood, his hands behind his back as he paced in front of her, just like he might in a courtroom. ”First, Aglaophonos-”
”Call me Aggie. My real name is such a mouthful. Now that I'm mortal, I want to be called just Aggie. I need to pick a last name too. Still thinking about that.”
”All right, Aggie. Here's the bottom line. You don't have any rights here. This isn't an American court of law. This is the vampire council. You can't plead the Fifth. Second, if Ian knows this information you're withholding and it helps his case, he's going to tell it anyway. Best if it came from you.”
”Well, h.e.l.l.” She nibbled on her thumbnail, a bad habit she'd started recently. ”This doesn't seem fair, just vamps deciding things. Where's the jury of my peers?”
Richard shook his head. ”Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you ask for this hearing?”
Aggie sighed. ”Yes. I thought...Never mind. Here's what happened. I used my song to make him love me.” She stared down at her lap. She went on, telling of a temper fit by Ian, her fear when he found out the truth. Big dramatic story. She wiped tears. I should have loaned her my waterproof mascara.
Then she segued into the blood slave thing, big emphasis on the forced feeding and no cheekbones. Finally she ended with a flourish. ”And he said, 'At least you have blood I like. I'll keep you until I get tired of you. Then I'll just drain you dry!'” She bent her head and covered her face with both hands.
”Very affecting. Tell it just like that.” Richard nodded to me. ”The tears are a nice touch.”
”Richard! Come on. You're supposed to be on her side.” I patted her back, sure that last line was pure fabrication. Ian was more likely to toss her out on the streets to starve when he tired of her.
Aggie looked up. ”You don't believe me?”
”Oh, I'm sure that's probably your version of what happened. The problem is no one up there is going to like a Siren, Aggie. And the fact that you tricked Ian isn't going to play well.” He frowned. ”Glory, what happened when you got involved?”
”I saw Ian before and after he was under her spell. As soon as Aggie was made mortal it became obvious the spell had worn off. He got interested in her blood. Just like we all do when a mortal is around. He'd lost that loving feeling.” I gestured at Aggie. ”I agree that what she did was despicable.” I ignored the noise she made when I said that. ”But then he held her prisoner. She had to sneak out of his place, past his guards, and hitchhike to town.”
Ian nodded. ”I can use that. Then I a.s.sume he came after her.”
”Yes, practically knocked Glory's door down. Was going to drag me back whether I wanted to go or not.” Aggie had the indignant act down pat. ”Coercion!” She held up a finger.
”Why didn't he take you back? He's certainly powerful enough to overcome a mere mortal.”
Aggie smiled. ”Ian's afraid of Glory. She has mad skills.” She patted my knee. ”Like I used to have.” Oh here came the waterworks again. ”She gave me sanctuary. Such a wonderful friend.” She threw her arms around me, soaking my good black dress with her tears.
”Dry up, Aggie.” I peeled her off of me. ”You chose to leave the Sirens and give up those powers. But she's right. Ian figured she owed him some donor time for deceiving him.” I dug a handful of tissues out of my purse and thrust them at Aggie. She blew her nose and wiped her cheeks.
”Arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.d. It's like I was an ent.i.tlement!” Finger up again. Where was she getting these words?
”Aggie, did he take your blood every night? Leave you weak? Force you to do other things? s.e.x, for example?” Richard had a tablet computer like Ian's and made notes.
”I wasn't weak because he practically force-fed me. Mesmerized me when I tried to go on a hunger strike. More coercion.” She gestured down her body. ”Made me fat against my will. It was all about my blood for him. The minute he found out I'd tricked him into loving me, he-he wouldn't touch me again. Like that.”
”No rape then.” Richard just kept writing. Obviously this kind of intimate detail didn't bother him.
”No. I wish...” She looked up. ”Instead he'd look into my eyes, use that d.a.m.ned mind control and I'd be helpless, just sit there while he drank my blood. He'd use my wrist. I could have been a stranger.” She wiped her eyes. I was going to have to steer her to the bathroom with a makeup bag before the hearing. She looked a mess.
”So what are you after here?” Richard set the tablet aside.
”I want him to suffer. He held me prisoner. He should pay for that. For my pain and suffering. I need money, Richard. He's rich. Have you seen where he lives? The cars in his garage? He can afford to throw a few million my way and never miss it.” Aggie jumped up and grabbed Richard's arm. ”He said many times that he'd turn me vampire. Then he didn't. That's breach of promise.”
I knew she'd gotten that straight from Judge Judy.
”The council won't go for that. They have a rule-”
”d.a.m.n their rule!” She took a deep breath. ”I heard him say that many times. He laughed at the council and their rules. Use that against him. He was really going to do it. Turn me. But then he got mad and refused. I never would have left the Sirens if I'd known I'd be stuck as a mortal.” She batted her eyes at Richard. The effect wasn't what she hoped since her black mascara decorated her cheeks in splotches. ”Can you imagine? I lost everything because he'd promised me my immortality back. Now I'm dying every day.”
”You made the choice.” Richard removed her hand from his sleeve. ”I'm just telling you what you'll hear from the council. Now, Aggie, when we get up there, follow my lead. Try not to let Ian goad you. It will only make the council turn against you. Honestly? You don't have a very good case.” He looked at me like ”what have you gotten me into?”
”Aggie, here, take my makeup bag and hit the bathroom. There's one by the front door. You look terrible.”
”Gee, thanks, Glory.” She made a face but took the bag and walked off.
”I'm sorry, Richard. She set this up. I've had her living with me and I was desperate to get her out of there. Maybe with some income.”
”I don't know, Gloriana. It'll be difficult. The one thing we've got going for us is that n.o.body here likes Ian either. Are you willing to testify?”
”Sure. If you think it will help.”
He glanced out the window. ”I'm not sure anything will. Just stand by. Here comes Florence. You knew she wouldn't miss this, didn't you?”
”Will they let her watch the proceedings?” Flo waved and I saw her walk around to where I knew there were gla.s.s doors into the house.
”These hearings are usually closed to spectators, but she's Damian's sister. She talked him into letting her sit in. She promised to stay quiet.” Richard led the way out into the hall.
”Glory, what's going on? Richard wouldn't tell me anything. Attorney-client privilege. Pah!” Flo waved her hands. ”This has got to be good. I heard him mention Aggie and Ian. You know I love gossip.”
”Flo! Are you here for moral support?” Aggie grabbed Flo from behind and hugged her. She'd just washed her face, obviously going for the pale and pitiful look. ”Remember how I stood up for you at your wedding? Just the best bridesmaid ever! And the wonderful bridal shower I threw for you. The water spouts, the high dives!” She leaned back, her eyes s.h.i.+ning. ”You can help me now. Testify. As a character witness.”
”Your character? I remember other things you did not so nice.” Flo sniffed the air. ”What is this? You are mortal now. Disastro! Who did this to you?”
”I did it to myself. For love!” Aggie put her hand to her heart. There was nothing like watching two drama queens at work. Flo gasped and grabbed Aggie's arm. Then the former Siren proceeded to tell Flo the whole tale with appropriate gestures. All of it ended up being in rapid Italian. I really needed to download that free translator app for my phone.
”Keep your voices down. You don't want the council to hear all of this.” Richard pulled them toward the staircase. ”Remember what I said. Follow my lead, Aggie. Answer the questions. Don't get carried away. Tears won't sway them.”
”Ricardo. We must help her. To be stuck in this dying body.” Flo held on to Aggie. ”My heart is breaking.” She turned to her new buddy. ”If you lose, there are people, rogue vampires, who will do anything for a price.”
”My G.o.d, Florence. Am I going to have to send you home?” Richard stopped on the stairs.
”I don't have any money. The Storm G.o.d took everything from me. I told Glory once that there was a Siren fortune. Turns out the treasurers in Olympus won't give anyone who's fallen from grace-that's what they call it, Glory-a dime. I checked before I decided to take the plunge. Of course Ian's rich so I didn't think I'd have to worry.” Aggie sighed then checked out Flo's designer pantsuit. ”Now look at me, wearing an outfit sc.r.a.ped together from Glory's shop. G.o.d knows who wore this last.”
Flo patted her hand. ”I understand. It is hard. But if you want to win money, it is good to look pietosa.” She frowned. ”You look a little bigger than the last time I saw you. What size is that?”
Aggie jerked her hand away. ”Never mind. Shouldn't we get up there? Richard? I'll say whatever it takes to get what's due me.” She stomped up the stairs. Her only pair of Manolos looked a little worse for wear even though she'd spent an hour trying to repair a gouge in one of the heels.
I followed the rest of them up the wide staircase. I could hear Aggie and Flo whispering together about black market vampires. If Flo offered to pay...
Richard stepped in. ”That's it. Not another word, you two. Or I walk. Understood?” He glared at his wife. ”You will not be helping her in any way, shape or form.”
”Now, Ricardo. If she loses a few pounds, I could let her shop in my closet. How about that?” Flo ran her fingers along the lapels of his gray suit.
”Fine. Now not another word. Go inside and sit in the back. Aggie, you're with me. Gloriana, sit next to Florence. If I need you as a witness, I'll call you.” He opened a door at the top of the stairs. ”Everyone just stay calm.”
Aggie nodded. ”You sound like Judge Judy. So...official. Will I get to go first? I'm the plaintiff, right?”