Karin: The Demon Sleeping Within

Chapter 26: Devotion

A week had passed, and we found ourselves back in the white-walled and bright courtroom. Satania and I sat in our designated seats, firing out any answers the chief or judge had asked us.

"Your honor..." Satania rose. "It is very unfortunate what my brother had done to innocent lives. In truth, he is undefeatable and powerful, and he does things knowing he won't get punished. He makes his own rules. He doesn't understand the value of mortals as I have grown to acknowledge. He, instead, lights fire with no concern to what families are being destroyed in the process." She shifted her weight, turning to glance at the whole jury as a whole. "I cannot apologize for him or reconcile his bad deeds; I can't recreate and undo the past, but I promise you all that from now on, as long as I breathe and share your air, I will fight my brother and prevent him from causing any future destruction."

The chief of Justice stood by his stand with a glint of skepticism in his eyes as the cogs in his brain began turning.

"Objection, your honor. Satania cannot undo the past. She stood by and watched. She stood and did no-"

The judge's hand rose, causing the chief to pause, his words fading in the thinning air, as his eyes fixated on Satania with mere fascination.

He was seeing how earnest Satania was being, and I knew how much it took out of her to come with the terms of wanting to speak up for herself.

"Overruled," the judge intervened. "You're finally speaking up for yourself, hmm? Why are you suddenly so articulate?" He asked, his curiosity peeked.

Turning to face the judge, Satania's lips once pursed, she soon responded with "Because, I made a promise to protect someone very close to me, and I intend on keeping that promise."

My eyes enlarged as her words ran through my mind. Satania was so... I had never met someone quite like her. I had never met someone that would so openly express her love for me in so many ways. Her love wrapped around my body; it warmed by heart, and it brought tranquility to my once roaring mind.

As the session came to an end that day, I rushed to Satania's side and held her in my arms, never wanting to let her go.

People scooted past us, walking in different directions, as we held on to each other for a couple of beats in the center, between the attorney desks.

A firm though non-threatening hand had tapped my shoulder. I hesitantly pulled away from Satania, my hand slipping from around her into her hand.

Turning around, we faced the judge. He was so tall in comparison to us- towering.

His lips fidgeted into a smile.

"I don't usually talk to the accused as trial is still open, however, this isn't a usual case now, is it?"

Baffled as to why he was talking to us now, I appeared speechless before him, and so, I just simply nodded. Satania wasn't so easily stunned, however.

"Your honor." She half-bowed. "Thank you for hearing me out."

His smile widened. "Thank you for speaking up." Turning to leave, parting ways with us, he stopped in the middle of the pathway out, before turning to face us again from across the hall. "I wouldn't worry too much about the outcome of this trial. Continue to speak truthfully and from your heart."

And with that, he walked out, us shortly following behind.

***

On the last day, we waited patiently and hopefully for the judge's final decision.

Our whole lives were depending on this- on his order.

Feeling Satania's turbulence, defying her tenacious stance, I reached for Satania's hand from under the table. Rubbing my thumb on the inside of her palm, I tried to channel some of my hopeful and energetic energy into her. We were in this together. I wanted her to feel my commitment to her in which she so effortlessly matched for me.