Chapter 207 - Testimony of accusation (2/2)
The gavel slammed against the countertop, bringing everyone's attention up to Themis. ”You may want to revise that last statement or be arrested for perjury.”
Vivian narrowed her eyes. ”I believe the wolf girl was put in the path of my brother-in-law by means involving Ms. Decker whether intentionally or not.” She lifted from the seat and leaned over the counter in front of her. ”I believe Ms. Decker planned to use my husband for her own benefit whether it would endanger his life or not.”
Themis inclined her head toward Vivian, acknowledging the truth of the statement. ”Will there be anything else Marcus?”
Marcus smiled up at Themis. ”No, My Lady.”
”Very well, Prometheus, you are up.” Themis said.
Prometheus cleared his throat as he stood. ”You say you and your husband were on good terms, when was the last time you'd seen him in person Mrs. DeMarco?”
She cast him a hate-filled glare. ”In France nearly a year ago, but we were supposed to have met during both his recent trips to the family's manor in Florida.”
”And why didn't you meet?” Prometheus asked.
She gritted her teeth. ”He'd received a call from Dante and left early, believing Decker may have been in trouble.” She faked a sad expression. ”At the time he'd thought her to be human and was only looking out for the best interest of the girl and her wolf companion.”
”Is it not true that Dante and Xavier DeMarco were both also aware of the Boosilis twin's identity and planned to act on that knowledge? Was Xavier DeMarco not only aware that his brother was holding Ms. Boosilis against her will but also sent his brother after her once she escaped?”
Vivian frowned, thinking over her word choices carefully. ”I was not privy to information involving the Boosilis twins until much later. I have no way of knowing for sure how much my husband knew of Dante's relationship with the wolf girl.”
The gavel fell again. ”Though I may not have detected a lie within your statement, I am intelligent enough to notice an evasive play on words. Please address the questions more directly.”
Vivian gritted her teeth. ”My husband was aware of the girl's identity, but unrelated extenuating circ.u.mstances arose preventing her release. I stand by my belief that my husband was innocent in this matter and that my brother-in-law's overall continued involvement with Ms. Boosilis had little to do with her identity.”
Prometheus frowned. ”No further questions. I would like to bring Areion to the stand.”
Arei gave Jos's hand another tight squeeze and placed a light kiss to her forehead as he stood, but before he could make it out from behind the box, Marcus called out. ”The man is obviously involved with Ms. Decker and any testimony against the vampires will be bias.”
Themis rolled her eyes. ”Did we not just hear from the man's own wife? Areion, please come forward.”
Prometheus focused on Arei as he took the stand. ”While working with the USVA, what did you discover?”
”Irrelevant! Anything overheard during his time with the USVA can only be considered circ.u.mstantial at best. They were on the fence about dealing with the DeMarco's. His own reports state as much.”
Prometheus frowned, ”Areion, how long have you known Ms. Decker? And in that time has she ever been willfully violent?”
”524 years, and no she has not. Any act of violence she has ever been a part of has been the direct result of either a curse she has no control over or justified based off the harsh nature of the individuals involved.” He held her gaze lovingly. ”She would do anything she had to, to protect the ones she cares about. There is nothing wrong with that.”
”No further questions.” Prometheus said, smiling at Arei.
Marcus stood before Themis even had time to call on him. ”Areion, you witnessed Xavier and Ms. Decker together. How would you describe that relationship.”
Arei frowned as his eyes involuntarily moved to Themis. {Shit!} ”They seemed overall happy with one another.”
”Did he seem overly taken with her... as if under the curse?” Marcus asked.
Arei bit his bottom lip. ”He seemed taken with her, but to know her is to love her. There is no way of knowing for sure whether the curse was involved.”
”What happened the night you attacked Mr. DeMarco?” Marcus asked.
Arei let out a long sigh. His hopes of helping Jos were slowly fading into the distance. ”He was making advancements on her and had even gone as far as to throw her cellphone into the ocean when she wasn't with him. He had seen us together along with reading messages on her phone and got jealous.”
”Overly jealous and fits of rage and s.e.x.u.a.l aggression?” Marcus rubbed his chin thoughtfully before turning his attention to the conference screen where Russ sat quietly staring back, his audio muted. ”Doesn't that sound familiar? I believe we have all held witness to a similar event here inside the Embassy, have we not? As if part of a curse, wouldn't you agree?” When Arei only frowned, Marcus smiled back at him. ”No further questions. I call Joslyn Decker to the stand.”
Jos could feel the cold chill of defeat creep up her spine as Arei's troubled eyes met hers. It was over. There was nothing anyone could say to color the situation in her favor. She slowly stood, pausing only long enough to bend and stroke the head of Shelly who was now whining from the chair beside her. ”It's okay.” She said to Arei as he lipped the words 'I'm sorry' as he walked past her. She could feel all the eyes in the courtroom fall on her as she took her seat.