Part 28 (1/2)

The prosecutor became abruptly firm. ”Doctor, in your medical opinion, was Ryan's anatomy significantly different from the Young One?”

Susan stared at Ryan, who was waiting for her reply. ”Yes,” she said at last, ”significantly different.”

Susan could see the next question coming before the one word slipped from the prosecutor's lips.

”How?”

Ryan was waiting for Susan's answer, as was the rest of the room. Susan released her breath, unaware she had been holding it. ”The Young One's anatomy was more similar to a human being's. He lacked many of the adaptations Ryan possessed, adaptations which made her so unique.”

”Unique,” the prosecutor said, savoring the word. ”And did you form any opinion as to why this difference existed?”

Edward stood. ”Objection, your honor. Calls for speculation.”

Abigail's eyes were not on the attorney but on his client. For once Ryan did not hold her gaze, but rather looked down at her hands. Abigail turned her attention to Edward. ”Overruled. Susan Ryerson is a medical doctor and capable of rendering an expert opinion on this matter.”

Edward took his seat, his misgivings growing. Ryan turned her attention back to Susan.

”I thought perhaps it was because Ryan was so much older,” Susan began, ”that she had changed over time-”

”Oh really,” the prosecutor interrupted smoothly. He strode across the room to Susan and leaned against the railing in front of her. He lowered his voice, and his words were slightly mocking. ”Is that what you really think?”

Susan held his gaze for a moment, then looked past him to Ryan. She shook her head. ”No,” she said simply, ”that's not what I think.”

The prosecutor maintained his position a moment longer, then abruptly stepped back from the railing. He bowed slightly.

”Thank you Dr. Ryerson, that is all I have.”

Edward was surprised by the abrupt ending. Evidently the prosecution did not wish to pursue their line of questioning any further although he was uncertain what they had just established. He wrote on the pad in front of him, knowing any whisper would be heard throughout the hall. He handed the message to Ryan. It read, ”Is there something I should know?”

Ryan shook her head. ”Ignorance is bliss,” she said aloud. Abigail stared down at her, eyes gleaming. Edward stood.

”I have no questions for the witness, your Honor.”

Edward took his seat Susan vacated the stand. Ryan glanced over at him. ”How much do I pay you for such brilliant cross-examination?” she asked wryly.

He pushed his chair into the table. ”Not enough,” he said briskly.

Susan took the seat on Ryan's other side, glancing over at her apologetically. Ryan shook her head as if it were no matter. But as she glanced up at Marilyn, who was now regarding her thoughtfully, she knew the damage had already begun.

The prosecuting attorney stood and addressed Abigail politely. ”Your honor, I would now like to call to the stand Marilyn de Fontesque.”

Marilyn moved to the stand with elegant grace. She settled comfortably into the seat, her eyes on Ryan.

The prosecutor bowed to her. ”Madam,” he began respectfully, ”would you please describe the circ.u.mstances under which you first came to know the defendant.”

Marilyn smiled, as if the memory gave her great pleasure. ”Yes, I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was in France during the first part of the 15th century.” She turned to Abigail. ”We had not seen Victor in some time when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere with this half-wild creature in tow.”

Abigail nodded in agreement, as if the memory also gave her pleasure. Evidently joining in on Marilyn's testimony did not seem improper procedure to her.

The prosecutor saw no problem in it, either, and addressed his questioning as much to Abigail as he did to Marilyn. ”And can you describe your impression upon seeing her?”

Both were thoughtful, and it was Abigail who responded first. ”I thought she was exquisite. So young, and yet so powerful,” she remembered fondly. She shrugged. ”And of course, so impossible.”

The prosecutor raised an eyebrow. ”Why impossible?”

Marilyn fielded this question. ”Victor should not have been able to Change her. He was too old and too powerful.”

Abigail nodded her agreement. The prosecutor nodded as well. ”For the record, your honor, would you state why Victor was too old? We all, of course, know why, but I think it should be explicitly stated for the record.”

Ryan did not hide her derision. An explicit statement had nothing to do with procedure. An explicit statement had everything to do with creating an impact.

Abigail gazed at Ryan knowingly. ”Certainly, counsel. Procedure dictates.” She smoothed her robes and began to tell her story.

”Ours is a hierarchy of power. Unlike normal man, who grows more frail as he ages, we grow more powerful. The more powerful we become, the less capable we are of being destroyed, until we come to a point where death is no longer a threat.”

Abigail took that moment to glance at Ryan. ”At least in theory.” She turned back to the courtroom, continuing. ”We also become more powerful through the act of Sharing. To Share with One more powerful than yourself is the greatest pleasure because the younger is strengthened by the blood of the elder.” Abigail appeared to momentarily digress, ”Although sharing with a Young One is a pleasant experience, nonetheless. And it is one of life's greatest pleasures to Share unto death.”

”In fact,” Abigail said mildly and without remorse, ”quite often, the younger ones are killed. Only the very strong of the Young will survive. They are either seduced by their mentor or others, and are killed or enslaved. Even if they are enslaved they may not survive the pa.s.sions of their masters. It is only when they reach a certain age, usually several centuries, that they move beyond death and are not threatened with destruction.”

”Victor was too Old to Change Ryan,” Abigail said simply. Abigail was thoughtful for a long moment. ”The politics of Sharing are complicated beyond belief, and the power amongst our Kind is determined by many things, the most important being who created you.”

Abigail took that moment to cast a significant look at Ryan before she continued. ”The older the mentor at transformation, the more powerful the Young One will be. However, after a certain point, we are no longer capable of reproducing because as we age our blood becomes too powerful for humans and is toxic to them.” She shrugged. ”So although the Old Ones would create the most powerful of our Kind, they are completely barren. The task of procreation is left to those who survive their infancy but who are not yet Old Ones. The very Young cannot reproduce because their blood is not powerful enough and the very Old cannot because their blood is too strong.”

Abigail paused to impart another significant glance toward Ryan. ”Again, this is in theory.”

Edward took this opportunity to stand. ”Then how could Victor have possibly created my client?”

A heavy silence hung over the courtroom. Abigail's eyes did not leave Ryan. ”That is what we all want to know.”

Ryan rolled her eyes as Edward took his seat. ”That was a marvelous move. Thank you.”

Edward felt no regret over the question; Ryan had brought this upon herself by not giving him all the facts. He realized there was much beneath the surface of this trial.

The prosecutor stood, turning his attention back to Marilyn. ”Madame de Fontesque. Now you stated you felt Ryan possessed an unnatural power for her age. Were there any other incidents where you were again struck by this *power'?”

Marilyn nodded, her eyes on Ryan. ”Yes. It was shortly after Ryan had the pleasure of meeting the Borgia Pope.”

Ryan's jaw tightened imperceptibly, but Marilyn saw it. Her pleasure at the reaction was evident in her tone. ”It was the first time I saw the extent of Ryan's temper.” She turned to Abigail, speaking conversationally. ”Oh, I had seen it before. Ryan could be quite deadly when angered. She once cut a man in two, springing to defend my honor.”

Susan was surprised to see that Ryan actually looked embarra.s.sed at this revelation. Abigail nodded in agreement, as if this incident did not surprise her. Marilyn continued.

”But Rome was the first time I had any premonition of how powerful she was,” Marilyn paused, growing more serious, ”and how powerful she would become. Even fully bled her body was heated by a fire that had no source.”

For whatever reason, many in the courtroom turned their attention on Ryan, as if trying to see what secret her physical form could reveal.

Ryan was staring at Marilyn, an enigmatic expression on her face. In a seemingly purposeless gesture, she raised her hand and stroked her chin. She began tapping her teeth with her fingernail, as if deep in thought. But her eyes were clearly focused on Marilyn.

”Ouch,” Ryan said softly, her hand jerking away from her mouth. Her attention was now focused on her index finger, which she slowly drew away to look at.

A single drop of crimson rolled down the edge of the finger towards the palm. Ryan gazed at the drop with a slightly concerned expression on her face.