A Dark Grey Memory

Chapter 1 - Trial of the Century

London, England, January, 990 CE

***

"State your name, age, and date of birth for the record," the judge asks the girl with pale hair and gold eyes.

"Veronica Valens, 16 years of age, December 21, yearof the lord 974," the girl said plainly, her face showing only the vaguest amount of boredom.

"Wand type?"

"Black thorn-wood, unyielding flexibility, 13 inches, dragon heartstring core."

"Answer the following question yes or no. Are you the adopted daughter of Chief Warlock Alaric Valens?"

"Yes."

"You have been accused of murdering one-hundred-and-eighty-three individuals, torturing at least three hundred others..."

"Five hundred," Veronica says, interrupting the judge.

"Correction, torturing five hundred individuals, and treason against the Wizard Council. How do you plead?" The judge demands of Veronica, a disgusted expression creeping on her face.

"Guilty on all charges, your honor," Veronica states, her golden eyes flickering around the room.

She already knows what her punishment will be, she doesn't see the point in the trial, not when they too already know what will happen.

The crowd seems shocked, surprised that a dark witch as legend as Veronica Valens would plead guilty to her crimes, not try to worm her way out of the punishments due to her.

"Did I hear you correctly, Ms. Valens, did you plead guilty?" The judge asks, hers is the most surprised face in the room.

"Guilty on all charges, yes," Veronica rehashes her previous statement.

"Very well then, take her to the dungeons. Bring meBrandon Mason," the judge commands the people around her.

Guards come to bring Veronica back to her cell. Without a single twitch of struggle, Veronica follows peacefully. As she walks into the dark tunnel that leads back into the halls of the council, her eyes land on four strangely dressed figures, ones she doesn't recognize.

They watch her too, staring at the hallway she disappears through long after she's gone.

Veronica's guards lead her through marbled halls and stone corridors, down seemingly endless flights of stairs to the dark pits of the dungeons. Water drips, and magically kept flames flicker along the walls. Rows and rows of cells stretch out along the expanse of the underground cavern.

Only a few of these cells, the cells for death row inmates, are filled. The other former inhabitants are all dead, long gone.

Two inhabitants border the cell that Veronica is pushed into by the rough and hateful guards. She sits on the blanket in the corner, the only luxury allowed to the infamous delinquents held in this dungeon.

"What did you tell them?" One of the boys, a boy with dirt colored hair and bluish green eyes asks Veronica.

She bites the inside of her cheek as she watches the shadows dance with the flickering light.

"Nothing, the talking comes in the real trial, not now," Veronica answers at last, and the boy nods. "They're coming to get you next, Brandon."

"Thanks for the heads up," the boy, Brandon, says to Veronica. "I'm going to tell them everything I know."

"Good," Veronica responds, "maybe they'll let you get off of the gallows. Keep you in here for eternity."

"I'd rather the gallows than stay here," Brandon smirks at Veronica, she doesn't return the look.