"Oh that answer again." Councilman Mario turned to Councilman Klaus. "Start the trial."
Councilman Klaus banged his gavel on the table. "This court is now in session. Bosco Barkley, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty, Councilman Klaus."
"Casius Franklin, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty, Councilman Klaus."
"Now explain to us how you are not guilty of these crimes against our community?" Councilman Klaus asked.
Barkley and Franklin looked at each other then started talking at the same time. "One at a time!" Councilman Klaus said after he banged his gavel to get their attention. "Barkley let us hear your version first." The Councilman said.
"Franklin and I decided shortly after we passed the sipping law that we had to make sure there was always food for us." Barkley nodded towards the Vampire Council. They sat like statues. "As we traveled the known world we looked for ways to protect our food." Barkley was becoming nervous. The Council usually nods or smiles when they listened to testimonies, not this time. "We discovered a couple of things but dismissed them." Barkley nodded to the Council.
"Franklin." Councilman Klaus called.
"Like Barkley said we started looked for a way to keep us supplied in blood. We thought of one idea to grid off populated area to one vampire and that would be their feeding ground but we dismissed it. Too many of us wonder around to keep to a feeding ground."
"Another idea was to gorge ourselves on the wounded that were on the battlefield. That was too dangerous."
"Another was...."
"Never mind Franklin, we understand the train of thought. Explain the blood house in the middle of New Orleans."
"The blood house?" Barkley said clearly stalling.
"Yes the blood house, the one you had Barkley in gathering blood from all different kinds of creatures including himself." Councilwoman Cleo said great disgust.
"Oh that house." Barkley said. "the one I almost died in."
"Yes that one."
"Actually Councilwoman Cleo, we did not know it existed until I was captured and put in the blood letting machine." Barkley shrugged his shoulders.
"Well we will go back to that later. Now exposing our kind to mortals?" There was gasps and vicious whispers from the audience.
"Well Madam it was the only way to ensure our blood supply. There are more mortals then there is of us."
"Now there is even less of us." Councilman Antonio said bitterly.
Everyone was nodding in agreement.
"That was never our intent." Franklin said.
"It is the result of your actions. Your greed." Councilman Mario exclaimed. "Zeus bring us Exhibit A."
"Yes Sir." Zeus brought a small item over to the Councilman. "I do not know if all of you have seen the creature tracker. I will let everyone take a look." He handed it to the closest person. "While you are looking at the device I will explain how it works. There is a small dial on the top where you place a drop of blood of the creature you wish to track, the dial will point the way. Have any of you been hunted with one of these?"
Almost everyone raised their hands.
"Now tell us how many of these have you made?" Councilman Mario nodded towards the device.
"Two thousand three hundred and fifty three." Franklin said proudly.
"How many have you sold?"?
"Two thousand one hundred and eleven."
