Heart of the Sea

Chapter 8 - What a Lawyer

The next morning, Emma came into the office and called Lili.

"A moment, Swan," came a grunt.

Emma rushed over to the cell.

Where the hell-...upside down.

She was hanging upside down from the bars, dark curls below her head, knuckles white, face flushed, feet tapping the bars above her.

"What the hell're you doing, kid?? Get down from there!"

Lili carefully swung her body to the side, her grip changing so she was right-side up again, letting go to drop to the floor, stumbling back a few steps. "Woah. Hang on a second mate." She blinked wide a few times, arms out from her sides a little before she regained her balance and orientation. "Right." She ruffled her curls, binding them back with her bandana, straightening her clothes. Emma unlocked the door and led her out to the sheriff's car. "Watch your head, kid."

"I can see where I'm bloody going, Swan," Lili assured her. Bloody mother. They drove a little ways to the town hall, which doubled as the court house. Lili was surprised to see quite a few people there; she couldn't resist smirking when she saw Ruby looking particularly satisfied. She saw Mr. Gold sitting at the little table she was being led to and steeled her jaw. (No weakness. No fear.) She sat down stiffly beside him. "Just leave all the talking t'me, dearie," he murmured.

Not a chance in hell, she thought to herself.

Emma got everyone's attention. "All rise."

Everyone stood, and the judge entered, sitting.

They all sat.

"The trial will begin," the judge announced. "The defendant, a...Lilianna Jones?"

"Liliahna," she muttered under her breath.

"Is accused of several counts of larceny from the Rabbit Hole facility. Would she please come to the stand?"

Emma led Lili to the platform, where she stood. Emma took out a Bible. "Place your right hand on the Bible, please," she requested.

Lili did so.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"Aye."

"You may sit."

She did. Her eyes found the accuser, the owner of the bar, Teddy. She smiled at him. He rolled his eyes.
"The owner, Teddy, is pressing charges that you've stolen quite a few bottles of alcoholic drinks from his facilities. Is it true that you stole them?" the judge asked.

"Aye."

Gold's forehead hit his palm.

A few murmurs rippled through the room.

"How old are you, Miss Jones?"

"Three hundred and forty-eight."

There were a few scoffing laughs.

"Miss Jones, I asked you a serious question."

"An' I gave you a serious ahnswer. I'm three hundred an' forty-eight. Captain Jones can testify t'that," she added, nodding to him as she saw him in the crowd. "I spent three hundred years in Neverland."

The judge sighed. "Well, at least that takes away the possible charge for underage drinking."

A few laughs rippled through the room. "Anything else you'd like to say?"

"Not really, no."

"The defendant is dismissed."

Emma led her back to her seat.

"The court is dismissed for twenty minutes."