CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

     BANG!!! Derek blew open the double doors and strode in with Chris not far behind him.

     "Mother, do not condemn her. She did nothing wrong and I will vouch for it," Derek strode around Jess's cage to kneel in front of and below us. Chris paused at Jess's cage, then came round to copy Derek.

     "I, too, vouch that Jess did nothing wrong," his deep baritone voice rumbled.

     "You two should be in recovery, not gallivanting around," said a nurse that rushed in. She froze when she saw the congregation and curtsied.

     "I'm sorry ma'am, sirs, but I was told not to let these two out until they were fully healed," the nurse modestly said, still curtseying.

     "It's fine, nurse, you can leave," my mother said with steel in her voice. "This is interesting," she went on. "Two people attacked by Jess are vouching for her. Why may I ask?"

     "Because what happened was my fault," Derek mumbled.

     "I couldn't quite hear that, what'd you say?" I knew mom was trying to teach him a lesson, so I kept out of it, watching Jess pale a bit more.

     "I said that it was my fault that it happened," Derek said, loudly and clearly.

     "And what punishment do you deserve?" mom asked with steel tones.

     "By law, death, if the victim changes their mind it's else wise. It's usually death though," Derek's jaw clenched.

     "And what is the penalty for those who cannot die?"

     "Eternal torture of the victim’s choice. If the victim was tortured, the offender in turn gets that torture," Derek paled considerably as he said this.

     "And if the victim says no to the death, and in turn, no to the torture?" this was the last bit of information that made any slave trader sick.

     "Slavery until the victim is content," Derek bowed his head as the queen turned her head towards Chris.

     "And why do you vouch for the one that nearly drained you dry?"

     "Because I knew she was starved. I also couldn't warn her that, at that moment, my blood was drugged,"

     "Who drugged you?" an official asked. Chris stayed quiet and mother spoke sternly.

     "Who drugged you Christopher?"

     "Derek drugged me in order to get Bella weak enough to get into her mind and destroy any memories of Jeremiah or replace them with him," Derek looked ashamed and Chris looked like he was going to pass out again. Mom rubbed her forehead.

     "Court, do you still stand by your decision?" everyone nodded yes to mom's question and the official stood again.

     "The jury has decided that with the charges against Jessabella Stergin, old evidence, and new evidence, that she will be charged as innocent," I hopped down from the balcony and walked slowly in between Derek and Chris on my way to Jess. The official continued.

     "The parole is as stated: Derek Koster will be slave to Jessabella Stergin, Jessabella Stergin is indebted to Christopher Heart, Christopher Heart is freed from Derek Koster," I was halfway to Jess when her cage, cuffs, links and collar disappeared. Without the support and weight on her, Jess swayed dangerously. I sprinted towards her and caught her before she fell.

     Gently I laid her on her back and leaned her torso up against mine. She was loosing consciousness but she still tried to look up at me.

     "Hello handsome," she said lightheartedly.  

     "How can you be so happy, luv?" I asked her smoothing down her knotted, bloody hair and I could almost feel tears. I pushed down the emotion as she spoke again.

     "Because I can live, and I can still see you," was what she simply said. She closed her eyes and I felt her slowly relaxing.

     "Jess," I whispered to her, moving over until I was inches from her face.

     "Yes?" she asked drowsily.

     "Will you marry me," I asked, utterly and hopelessly nervous. She opened her eyes and looked up at me and my stomach tightened more. After a few seconds she closed them and faintly smiled.

     "I will Jeremiah Josh," I smiled as she fell asleep. I remembered my duties and looked up at the official.

     "Please tell my prospective brides that they no longer need to stay. I've found my true match," I lightly kissed Jess's cheek and felt how cold she was becoming.

     "My first gift for my fiancé is to take her to the best healer in all the under nation of hell," gently I picked her up and teleported us away to my rooms.