Puppet {ManxMan}

CHAPTER 39

The meeting room was practically filled up with people when I walked in, feeling instantly uncomfortable considering I didn't recognize more than a handful. Kailas was sitting in his usual chair at the end of the table with Malachi, Arthur, and Gale on one side and Cass, Ian, Lucia and Devin on the other, sitting in chairs pulled close to Kailas like they felt they needed to shield him from the group of yelling soldiers and citizens. Roman sat on the other end of the table with Rhett beside him, and of course the psychopath was trying to pacify his uncle and the others. Still keeping up the façade I see.

That wouldn't last after I showed everyone the recording.

When the group noticed I was in the room they hushed, and my eyes panned over them as I stepped closer to Kailas, my accusing glare landing on Rhett when I stopped. Of course he just smiled at me with that familiar look of confused innocence as I narrowed my eyes at him.

Roman pointed at me, snarling, "Why is he here?! He's a murderer!"

"He's here because he's a witness to what happened," Kailas said, sitting back in his chair and holding his arm out towards me to call me closer to him, "If you want to complain, save it. You're already on thin ice as it is."

He spoke with poison in his voice and narrowing eyes, and Roman quieted down before sitting back, looking uncomfortable, though he continued to glare at me as I stepped up beside Kailas, who hooked his fingers through one of loops of my jeans and tugged me closer.

"Now," he started, pulling me down so I fell into his lap, cheeks burning from the shock of the sudden action, "This has to do with the recent escape of our prisoner and the death of one of our two military leaders. If anyone has an opinion-."

People were yelling again before Kailas could finish, and he sighed, his arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer. I wanted to push him away, especially considering so many people were in the room watching his obvious affection for me, but decided to just relax against him and let him take comfort in my presence.

"It's good to see you're here, Demi," Ian said behind me, and I looked over my shoulder at where he was sitting between Kailas and Cass, "I heard what happened with Roman, Cass is pissed."

Cass muttered but I just frowned, "You're glad to see me? Is that a blind joke?"

Ian grinned from ear-to-ear, "I've been thinking 'em up all day."

His casualty nearly had me smiling, but I turned away before my stoic demeanor broke. I was happy to see him up and about finally, him being here made me feel a bit better about what happened to him because it meant he was feeling more like himself. Clutched in his hands was a long, thin wooden staff he was probably just starting to use to help him walk around independently. It was good to see he was trying again.

"Demi, what happened to getting Dakota?" Arthur asked me, and my frown fell heavier on my lips as my eyes lowered.

"He's sleeping," I said, and Arthur tipped his head to the side curiously, watching as I pulled the sleek silver recorder from my pocket.

"What's that?"

"We needed concrete proof Rhett did it, right?" I asked, standing up from Kailas' lap, "This is our concrete proof."

"What? Where did you get it?" Arthur asked, and I shook my head, turning to the table as everyone got quiet again, watching me.

"Most of you think I did this, right?" I asked, and there were quiet murmurs, "I have proof that I didn't."

"Oh yea?" one man yelled from the back, "Who else could've done it, huh? You're an assassin who worked for the Con Rồng, everyone else in this rebellion is actually trustworthy!"