The crowd erupted into angry cries and I shook my head. I was stuck in the middle. I understood their fears and the reasoning behind it. They were part of the favored food group for most Fae, unfortunately, the Fae doing it didn’t stop at FIZ state, they continued until death was the outcome.
“If we do nothing, the Fae within the crowd will attack,” Ryder said softly, and it drew my eye to those who were indeed in the audience with disgruntled rage on their perfect features.
“Do you trust me, Ryder?” I asked and felt his fingers as they entwined through mine. He brought them up and kissed my knuckles.
“Without hesitation,” he whispered.
“Keep Alden safe until I get back,” I said and smiled.
I started through the crowd, pushing and shoving my way to the front of it. As I did so, the Elder continued as the Witches and Warlocks in front of the Guild held the four condemned Light Fae locked down with their magic.
“Today it ends! Today we show you who controls this world! We can’t do it alone though; we need your help, and your vigilance!” the Elder shouted and the news camera’s followed his movement as he started in the direction of the Fae.
I could smell the heavy scent of freshly smelted iron. I watched as they brought it out in liquid form and my stomach dropped at the thought of how they intended to kill them. Liquid iron wouldn’t kill them quickly; it would be a painfully slow death.
“Ryder, tell the Elite Guard to turn music on, and make it loud. Phones, radios, make sure you channel it through everything.” He gave me a mischievous smirk.
“Done,” his voice rumbled in my head.
Fall Out Boy’s Centuries blasted the assembly and shook the windows of the buildings surrounding us. Phones started blaring the song along with the rhythmic honking of horns in time with the music from the cars that lined the streets, as well as the apartment buildings that were close enough for their magic to reach.
I shed my invisibility glamour and quickly moved until I was walking up the steps.
“Stop her!” one of the Witches screamed, trying to be heard over the music.
“Let her try to save them,” Harold said, and I narrowed my eyes on him. “Well, well, it’s Synthia McKenna, from the Spokane Guild,” he sneered as he moved to the iron.
I smiled and then moved with inhuman speed. The same speed that Danu had, which was faster than light. I knew the cameras were watching. I also knew that I didn’t have the time to be diplomatic right now, not with the Fae in the crowd planning to attack the Guild in front of the cameras. It would be war for sure if they did that.
“Oh, I’m not here to stop you. I’m here to deliver punishment to my people. The Fae do not punish you when you break the laws. It’s only judgment if both parties agree. Luckily for you, I do. I was, after all, part of this world. I followed your orders, and I was one of your best Enforcers, Harold. Do you not agree?” I didn’t wait for his response as I began the judgment of these unfortunate Fae.
I searched their minds and viewed the deeds of which they were being accused. Some were worse than others, but all deserved death. They had, in fact, been ordered to feed openly by Tatiana. She should have done as we’d instructed, because now she would die. She may not care about her people, but I would make damn sure she got the message of what would happen should this feeding frenzy continue. She’d be watching because the woman simply loved drama, and she was probably now watching the TV and enjoying the outcome from the safety of her comfy couch.
“You know the laws, and yet you chose to feed openly?” I asked the Fae that were being held down.
“She is our Queen!” one shouted, speaking for the entire group.
“No, she is no longer a Queen. She was deposed and banished from Faery. Now she will be marked, and she will also find death, as you do now,” I said softly.
“You are not a Queen!” he raged.
“Not yet,” I agreed. “I’m sorry you chose to follow her.”
I shook my head and then looked up as I felt one of the Witches tried to spell me. “I wouldn’t do that,” I said with a small smirk on my lips as I broke the incantation she tried to cast on me; as if it was a spell from a novice.
I turned my focus on the Fae who stood accused. I walked to one and helped him up from where he’d been kneeling on the stairs, and as the entire world watched, I searched my mind for a way to make a statement that wouldn’t scare the Humans too much. I smiled when I finally found it. “You stand accused of killing Humans, which the Fae now acknowledge as a crime as well. You are sentenced to death. Ashes to ashes…dust to dust,” I finished barely above a whisper. I brought my hand up to weave the spell, and as I watched him, he turned to ash and disintegrated on to the steps of the Guild.
The Humans in the crowd gasped in horror, but the news cameras watched, recording it all for those who hadn’t come to the Guild. Oops. It wasn’t quite what I had planned, but it worked.