A Little Too Much, A Little Too Deep

Chapter 36

A/N: I just want you to be aware, I work in a lawyer's office, but I do not work in Litigation/Criminal Law. If I got anything wrong, I apologize.

There is some uncomfortable content in this chapter and I have put a * to indicate where it starts. It is short.

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I smooth my blouse nervously as my mother steps into my bedroom and spots me in front of the mirror. Mom comes over and wraps her arms around me, resting her head against my arm as she makes eye contact with me in the reflection.

"You look beautiful, but you need to calm down a little. I know you are nervous for today but the tension is rolling off of you in waves," Mom says softly and I nod with a slow breath. I place my hands on her arms and squeeze in acknowledgement before we both leave the bedroom and walk into the living room.

Today is the first day of the trial against Tasha. We have already been to court for Ethan Moore, and he has been stripped of his Guardian title and sentenced to ten years for his involvement with Tasha's crimes against me and for vandalizing my home. Robert, on the other hand, was sent to the psych ward at Tarasov. I think the hardest thing for me right now is knowing that I'm going to be in the same room as Tasha again. I look over at my friends and family gathered in my living room with a faint smile.

We were able to smuggle Sydney into court and she volunteered to stay behind today and watch over the twins. Christian is sitting with Lissa on the couch bouncing Nadia in his lap, but he has a sad look in his eyes and my guilt intensifies. Tasha is the only living family he has left, and she is going on trial for trying to kill his friend. Baba is sitting next to Lissa as they talk quietly and Mia is sitting next to him, eagerly hanging onto every word he is saying.

I scan around the room and find Artyom in Eddie's arms and Artyom seems to be contentedly resting his head against Eddie while being rocked side to side. Mom slides past me and starts speaking with Eddie.

"You ok, Little Dhampir?"

I look behind me to see Adrian holding a cup of coffee with his other hand shoved in his pocket. I shrug my shoulders at him as he steps closer, offering the hot mug to me. I take it with a smile and sip while looking around the room. "Things will go well today. I just know it," Adrian says philosophically, and I raise a brow at him with a chuckle.

"Why do you say that?" I ask and Adrian shrugs his shoulders.

"Gut feeling."

I shake my head and lean against the door jamb while the other people in the room have yet to notice my presence. Although there is one person I have yet to see in the room. That is until an arm slides around my waist and I look up to find Dimitri standing just behind me. I rack my eyes over him quickly to notice that he is wearing his uniform. I furrow my eyes at him, and he frowns. "I will be there as your Guardian today. Tatiana was concerned about the trial and asked that I go in uniform, but I will be sitting with you the whole time," Dimitri explains, and I lean back into him. Adrian bumps his shoulder against Dimitri's with a smirk.

"I've told you once, I'll say it again. You two brighten the room when you're close. It is extraordinary," Adrian says, and I simply shake my head at him.

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Sitting in the chair rigidly, we wait for it to start. Getting into the courtroom was difficult, but with Mom, Eddie and Dimitri's help we were able to get through the crowd waiting outside. Lissa sits on one side of me with Dimitri on the other, both of them holding a hand. I squeeze both of their hands and look over to Lissa. Lissa turns to look at me and catches my gaze as I look over to Christian.