A Fall into Darkness

Judgement

Katherine stood in the center of the building, Clark on one side Bruce on the other. All those that were assembled wondered why the late night call for the council.
"What troubles you my queen?"
"Last night my son decided to disobey my order, which him being young and wanting to be near me I would have given him a punishment but nothing harsh, then he broke a law even he was to follow, this man is my king and is to remain unharmed. My son chose to do just the opposite of that. Both by threatening to kill him, and to change him. I care for this man as he is, not as we are.""
"What was Joshua's punishment my queen?"
"Death by my hand. But I lost control, for the first time in two thousand years that I have nearly killed two people that mean allot to me because of it."
"But we see that you are well."
"Yes I am, but I am finding more and more those that say they follow my laws and then they don't."
The room fell silent as Katherine looked around.
"I say this to you now, I recommend you not lie to me, tell me who among you feels I should not rule. And I tell you this I have lived a long time and was a powerful sorceress and I can tell if you lie to me. Chose your words wisely."
Bruce looked around the room, he noticed that the few extra shadows.
"Clark."
"Yeah?"
"How many?"
"Two maybe three hundred. They have hidden their minds from her."
"How can you tell?"
"Her facial expression."
"Katherine."
"I know, are you going to be able to handle any of these?"
"They are as strong as you and me I can we will have to keep track of Bruce."
"Bruce is fine." Katherine said to him.
"Remember to choose your words wisely."
"None have thought that." One said. Katherine looked around the room and raised her hand a ball of light seemed to appear on her hand and she threw it.
"Again choose your words wisely. Who's clans are they?"
"My queen all that are assembled are loyal to you and your king."
Katherine looked around, all in front of her were an open book she could read their thoughts. One by one those assembled before her exploded. Bruce moved and extended his cape protecting all three of them from what was coming at them. Katherine's eyes blazed with anger as she raised her hands, Bruce moved as she spoke something he had never heard and watched as the swarm exploded. But her anger never hit its peak until something she did not see struck Clark in the chest dropping him to his knees. An almost inhuman wail came from her as she turned, her eyes now locked on the lone soul. For the first time since knowing her Katherine took to the air almost flying as she dove for the person in the shadows.
"You've grown sloppy Katherine." His voice echoed the large room, a voice she knew she should not be hearing.
"What's the matter, hearing ghosts."
Even Bruce was confused he knew she had killed Nikolas.
"You're not him, a mimic." Bruce called out.
"The human seems to know the difference."
"I will end you."
"Are you willing to risk his life to catch me."
"Katherine." Bruce called out to her, she landed next to him dropping down next to Clark. Katherine touched his face, Clark looked up at her.
"Its fine."
Katherine touched his face and then looked at Bruce.
"He just needs to get into the sun."
"Which isn't due up for another six hours. Clark my love, just a small drink will heal you and not change you. Please." Katherine bit down onto her wrist and drew blood and pressed her wrist to his mouth. She waited and then pulled her wrist away.
"Let's not do that again." Clark said sitting up.
"I hadn't planned on it. Now where are you creature. I can still smell you. Get out of here." Katherine turned to see the creature.
"You have lived a long time, and even out lived your creator. But he didn't out live his."
"Ah, Mallek, I remember him telling me about you. A whisp of a man that kept to the shadows."
"So he did speak of me."
"Yes and not nicely. Then again I could careless. What do you want? You should go find a graveyard to haunt."
"I should be their king with you as my queen."
"Not likely. I have mine, and I am allot stronger than I look."
"Oh believe me child I know. You will be mine. Even if that means taking him."
"You get the one warning they all did. He is off limits, come near him again and I will rip out your spine through your mouth." Katherine hissed, she kept her eyes on the figure in the darkness.
"Plus it seems you're a coward." She said, in an instant he was in front of her. And she could tell he had remained hidden in the shadows so long he stopped even looking human.
"You are overconfident child."
"No, you're gullible." She said grabbing him by the throat.
"And it seems you have not fed. Children." Katherine called out into the darkness, a smile spread over her features as several clans stepped into the light.
"Yes mother?" They said bowing to her. Clark looked at Bruce and then at the assembled.
"He attacked the king, hid in the shadows and attacked others of the clans, what say you his judgment?"
"Death." They said in unison. Katherine looked at Mallek.
"You failed tonight old one. I was a sorceress first, a vampire second and as such my powers became stronger when I was changed. Nikolas didnt know that. And you didn't eather. You threatened him, you tried to kill him. Your life ends this night."
"Then kill me."
"Are you able to step into the sun?"
"I never was able to. You were very unique in that aspect dear Katherine. No matter what Nikolas told you."
"Good. Then come let's watch the sun rise shall we."
"You wouldn't."
"Would you rather I fed you to my children? They've only tasted elder blood once."
"Just kill me and be done with it child."
An evil smile crossed Katherine's face and Bruce became concerned.
"What are you thinking Katherine?"
"I have shown so much clemency with so many. And they continue, his punishment fits its crime." Katherine said slamming her hand into his chest and pulling his still beating heart from it. She looked into his eyes and smiled as she crushed his heart, but the pleasure came when his body turned to dust.
"Return to your homes, let others know of what happened this night. Now go."
Katherine waited for them to leave and dropped to one knee.
"You need to rest. Let's get home." Clark said lifting her into his arms.