Sylvester stormed out of the courtroom as it erupted into a rowdy debate. Judge Gravesons shrill calls for order were ignored, or unheard. The trial had taken its toll on the sensibilities of the villagers, and the Captain was at risk of losing the proceedings to mass hysteria.

The captain drew his flintlock and fired a bullet into the air. The crack of the powder stunned everyone. “Order!” he barked. “This trial must continue if you desire justice for Alius's crimes. Do you want me to set him free and have this horror continue? This is all a game Alius is playing. He is trying to put the village on trial when in fact, it is HE who is on the dock!”

The crowd settled and sat down. The captain handed his flintlock to Samuel to be repowdered. Somehow, David felt he’d need it again today. The time was five o’clock, and the trial lasted two hours and there were still more witnesses to go.

The evening was overcast. Speckles of rain dotted the people watching from outside. They responded by cramming themselves in tightly from the back. Terrence didn’t argue much with them this time.

Several more witnesses took the stand. The villagers were each subjected to questions regarding interactions they had with Alius. It was all rather mundane for the onlookers until Alius had his turn. Each time, Alius would reveal an alleged sin. Sally Mcgowen, poisoning the cats. Victor Premish and his pilfering of stores. Henry Blackmoore and his desire for fire around the chapel. None could be proven, but they sowed seeds of doubt effectively as the crowd rumbled and nodded at hearing their theories brought to life.

David stood up after hearing no further witnesses were willing to stand. “It seems Alius has been successful in scaring away witnesses with his tales. All unsubstantiated, I might add.” He looked over the village. The rain cracked and poured hard. Nobody outside moved. “My next witness is me. Jimethy will be the prosecutor for this line.”

Jimethy cleared his throat. They hadn’t had time to prepare, even if they did, it was clear this trial was more theatre than anything. He watched Potter take a seat and began questioning. He repeated many of the questions The captain had asked him, reinforcing the story about finding Elizabeth.

Jim cleared his throat. “Mr Van Hausen came to your home on the morning you found your wife dead, correct?”

“Yes.”

“What did Alius determine?”

“He said it was the work of a vampire.”

Jimethy nodded. “He drove a stake through her heart…how did this happen?”

“When I left the room to make a cup of tea, he locked the door.” David looked forlorn, “I realised something was amiss and tried to go back inside. When I found it locked, I tried to break the door down.”

“What happened next?”

“He commanded Jarrod to retrain me.”

“Was Jarrod rough?”

“He threw me into the plate dresser and struck me twice.”

“Were you able to fend off your assailant?”

“Yes. I then broke into the room.”

“What did you find?”

David took a deep breath, “He had driven a stake through Esme’s heart. And…he was mounting her body, kissing it.”

Alius stamped his feet. “That is a lie!”

“Order!” Said Judge Graveson.

David continued. “I tried to pull him off and he bit her neck. He attacked me, then fled.” Embellishing the story made the pit of his stomach twinge with guilt. It was easy to shake off when he looked at Alius, reminded of his chaotic impact.

“What happened after that?”

“Regrettably, I overreacted and caused a scene in the village. I then found out from Sylvester that Elizabeth's body was missing, and this spurred me into action. As a result of that action, Elizabeth.” He gestured toward her, “was saved.”

“No further questions.”

Alius smiled. “Well, here we are, Mr Potter. Captain David Potter.”

The captain shuffled in his chair and crossed his legs. He raised his chin confidently.

“Why did you tell a lie about what happened in your home with Esmeralda?”

“I did not.”

Alius nodded, “You may think this is my trial. It’s yours. And before your peers, you will demonstrate what is in store for this village. It does not bode well.”

“Ask your questions, make your accusations, please.”

Alius shook his head. “I do not care for my life. I have been wishing it away every day for the past five years. This village was a mistake, you were all a mistake.”

The crowd bubbled and growled.

“Don’t pretend I lie. You picked a judge with a penchant for children.”

“Order!” Graveson went beet red and miraculously rose with great speed. “You will remain on point!”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

David thought it convenient this was the first time the Judge had halted Alius’ wild accusations. Alius was sealing his fate, baying for the rope to strangle the pain away.

The rain was flooding into the open door of the hall and pooling in the aisle. Darkness enveloped. The village seemed devoid of life because of the lack of lanterns lit. Elizabeth remained seated, quiet and with a delicate smile barely visible under her veil.

“I think it’s time for final statements, said Graveson.” He rubbed his wrinkly forehead and brushed his beard with his fingers. “We are all tired.”

The captain was first. “To the Jury. I think you have seen how clearly mad Mr Van Der Haus is. He tortured his wife. He had the village uninvite each other formally to their homes. Had us lock ourselves away. Hang garlic from our doors and scatter grain wheat about our steps. Why?” He raised his hands, “Simple, so he and his accomplice, Mr Jarrod Bucksley, could have free reign. They patrolled uninhibited and murdered two innocent women.” The captain sighed, “All this under the guise of vampires and creatures, a sick fantasy he was playing out. He has tortured our village with his lies. You have seen it first-hand in this trial. I beg of you, dear jury, make the right choice here.”

Terrence dragged the chair Alius was tied to the front of the stage so he could speak to the jury and the crowd. “You are all dead.” he laughed. “Repent, for this curse will collect. It wants your blood. It will have it. When I am dead, your problems will grow like weeds.”

David shook his head.

Graveson cleared his throat, “Well, the jury shall head to the inn to make their decision. Do not interrupt them.”

The jury shuffled out behind Terrence. The town was silent in their absence. The rain had cooled the room. The villagers shivered and pulled in tight. A lump had formed in David's throat. He thought of how he could have worded things and questions he might have asked. The verdict must be guilty. The doubt was crippling. He needed to piss but hadn’t the strength to stand.

The jury returned after an agonising hour. David felt what life remained in him drain away to join the rain in the aisle. His breathing hastened. All he could see was the jury seating themselves. He didn’t hear Graveson ask them for their verdict. He could only hear muffled squawking and honking.

The lead juror stood. “We have agreed upon a verdict.”

David closed his eyes.

Alius smiled happily.

“We find Mr Alius Van Der Haus.”

The whole room leaned in.

“Guilty. Guilty for the murders of Angela Yeoman and Esmeralda Potter. Guilty of the imprisonment and torture of Elizabeth Van Der Haus.”

David breathed a sigh of relief. He felt his entire body deflate. His legs were shaking, his arms weak and his heart was palpating. He had succeeded in taking down Alius. The victory felt hollow still.

Graveson eased up to his feet gingerly. “Judgement for Alius. Death. By way of hanging.” He grumbled. “Now, someone take me home. I’m hungry.”

***

Many of the villagers had returned home to warm from the rain. A group of around forty had come to see the hanging. The captain wanted to get the hanging over quickly. He was not going to risk having Alius alive for a moment longer. It felt wrong that he desired the death of a man so urgently. A part of him wasn’t sure that he had killed Esmeralda.

Terrence and Jimethy prepped the rope. They were to use the old willow in the village square as the brace.

Alius gave no struggle or protest as he walked up to the tree. He stood on the stool and then allowed Terrence to bring the rope around his neck and tighten the noose. Jimethy tied his hands behind his back and his ankles together.

Captain David led a small prayer for the village. He asked for forgiveness and that a new dawn could be granted in the wake of this tragedy. The rain fell heavy and they were soaked through. Lanterns circled the willow tree with their holder's faces hidden.

“Do you have any final words, Alius?” Asked David.

Alius looked at Mr Potter and smiled. “It’s in the walls, David.”

He screwed his face up. “What is in the walls.”

“All of it. It’s in the walls. It’s waiting to come out. You will learn soon enough, Captain. By freeing me, you shackle yourself. I do not hate you.”

“Then why the resistance to me?”

Alius smiled, “I do not respect you, David. I do not have confidence in you. You are not fit for leadership. You are greedy and make poor decisions. You have damned this village and all we worked for.”

David nodded, “Very well, I’ll consider those criticisms.”

Terrence placed his foot on the stool and waited for the Captain's signal.

David nodded.

The stool tumbled away after being kicked. Alius began to choke. He wriggled like a fly caught in a spider's web. The gasping chokes turned to gurgles, then the gurgles to a wheeze as Alius’ body released air from his other orifices. The smell was unbecoming.

“Shall we take the body down?” Asked Jimethy.

“No, leave it for the morning.” David turned to the crowd. “The deed is done, the devil is banished. Back to your homes to be with your families. Be safe.”

“There will be much to do in the morning, Captain.”

David grimaced as he trotted towards the cobbler's house. “I know. We have bodies and questions.”

Jimethy followed along beside him, “We also have your captaincy.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, after the news of the affair, I am sure you’ll have fallen out of favour,” Jimethy said smugly.

David turned and moved before Jimethy’s path, “I do not want to be captain.”

“Yet you are.”

“We will vote on it when a candidate appears.”

“There is one.”

David cleared his throat. “Who?”

“Me.” Jimethy pointed at himself.

“You?”

Jimethy sneered, “Don’t say it like that. I’m as competent as the next man.”

“Daniel took your flintlock from you.”

“I was in shock.”

“You dithered. You put us all at risk. You think you could be Captain?”

Jimethy cocked his head, “Sounds like you don’t want competition.”

“I do, but I want it from a man that is dependable.”

“Unlike you.”

David clenched his fist and raised his arm halfway.

“Going to hit me, Captain?” Jimethy nodded to the balled fist.

“No, I’m tired. Three men died today.”

“On your watch.”

“On our watch.”

Jimethy shook his head, “We’ll talk about it tomorrow then. Will you be spending the night with your lover, Elizabeth?”

David gritted his teeth, “She isn’t my lover.”

Jimethy smirked.

“Try not to lock any boys in with dogs in the meantime.” David nodded, pleased to have wiped the smirk from Jimethy’s smug face.

Jimethy spat on the ground and stormed off.

David rubbed his head. He wandered back to his home, his true home. So much for the celebratory drinks and meal at the inn, thought David. He locked the door behind him and pressed his forehead to the wood.

“Aren’t you coming to the manor house?”

He spun on the spot. “Elizabeth?”