Chapter 269: Procession Of Shame
"He probably disappeared when the light thingy passed through each one of us." Elian added, vaguely remembering how his heart was at the brink of leaving his chest when the powerful light passed right through him, and he came out fine. "Elijah had been a pure-blood, his transformation was permanent to say the least, he couldn’t turn human, so it was impossible to survive the barrier spell."
"I’m so sorry." Madeline wished there was more she could offer him for his loss, but all she could do was say sorry to him. She had been so down by Cassian’s absence she didn’t realize Elian had lost his twin to the barrier spell. Now that she thought about it, the barrier spell only seemed to have taken something away from them, the struggles and everything they had gone through to get to that stage, but in return, they lost souls that mattered more to them.
"Please do not blame yourself." Elian quickly assured her when he sensed her gloomy aura, "what happened was simply inevitable and beyond our control, so don’t impact unnecessary worries on yourself. What we should do now is make sure Abbot pays for his crimes, and it’ll be great if Cassian’s mother gets some justice too."
"Mhmmn, you’re right." Orson agreed with a simple nod. "She has received a lot of derogatory comments for being a mistress. No one knew about Juliana and her schemes, the hidden murder as well, but I don’t think she’ll have anything to worry about from now on. The bureau team already dug what they could on the man she killed, and Cas is the real heir of the Albrecht family, I just wish he was here to get the title and justice he deserves. Sigh... that idiot."
Elian, who noticed the young man was about to tear up, placed his hand behind Orson’s neck as he massaged it. Orson and Cassian were like six and nine, Siamese twins as they’d call it, and it was understanding for Orson to feel this way. Madeline could only hold back her tears, and she placed a hand to her flat stomach, wanting to feel her baby’s presence.
"How’s your wound now?" She asked Orson, and the young man shook his head with a tsk. "It’s healing, it stings once in a while but I’m alright."
"Want me to take care of you?" Elian joked in a flirtatious manner, giving him one of his earnest looks that made Orson cringe. "I know I have a face that can make you swoon, but I don’t do guys. Where’s Elian with the silent treatment? I think I miss that second idiot now." He pushed Elian aside as a way of telling him to keep his distance, whilst he laughed alongside Madeline.
The next day, King Alaric made the public announcement concerning Cassian and what had really happened to the citizens of Carmarthen. Abbot was placed on trial and was rightfully sentenced to death by beheading. Juliana was sentenced to life incarceration in another town, and despite her scheming attempt to maneuver her way out of this mess, the evidence and Abbot’s statement concerning his late Father had Juliana dropping to her knees in defeat. If there was one thing Abbot was capable of, he would hate to go down alone, so if he was going to have his life ruined, he would take down the woman that supported his cruel actions rather than straying him away from it.
In the fading light of the setting sun, the upper East quarters townsquare was alive with an eerie hush as the crowds awaited the commencement of a somber procession. A heavy ominous air seemed to press down upon the stone-paved street, mirroring the weight of the impending doom that awaited the once prideful duchess, Juliana.