An Interview Gone Wrong

70- Mutiny

*Trigger Warning-Panic Attack*

**********

Today, the wolves would do the unthinkable. Today, they would cut the head of their pack from them, in position and law. A rejection of this magnitude was near unheard of in any long-distinguished lineage.

**********

Bailey woke the morning of and left Kikilina in a dash as she raced for the bathroom. Their hearts sped to a rabbit's race pace in tandem, bringing Kikilina to a forced, confused wakefulness. Even if the air wasn't disturbed to her human ears with the sound of heaving and discordant gasps, the shared nausea lurched in Kikilina's gut, giving her a good idea of why the wolf had left her in such a hasty fashion. It threatened to force the remains of last night's dinner up to the surface for a teetering moment just by proxy.

Bailey grasped onto the toilet seat as her head swam. The wolf got it in her to spit the taste from her mouth once, then run her tongue over her gums and do it again. The blond braced herself, then pushed off of the toilet to see how Kikilina faired and begin the string of apologies that would last the day through.

**********

With reassurances in her ears and in her heart, Bailey managed to get dressed in a formal suit. Only Kikilina's gentle but firm insistence put a meager few bites in her stomach before they were out the door. The ride to the courtroom was a yo-yo of heart, breath and awareness. A touch of her mate's hand would bring her back to the present and slow her heart rate, but though she offered a tight smile in turn, it would not be long before she was lost again.

The relief she felt when it was announced Candice would not sit in court at this time sapped the strength from the wolf's legs. Bailey accepted the knowledge with a stiff nod, then had to sit for a time to collect herself. The image she'd built up of her alpha staring daggers into her heart as she spoke out loomed and closed around her for so long that when the weight was lifted, she was left in a stun. She could do this.

**********

While many wolves of the pack would be present to give their testimonies at some point, the proceeds took hours. Here in Serenity, the witnesses and their support were kept separate in an orderly fashion. Even if she had been able to see her pack, Bailey did not think she would recognize a one. Candice had kept them so divided, so trained on the professions that would benefit her goals for so long, that she could not know one strange wolf from family in this form. Only on four paws would their connections be laid bare, but that was not allowed here in court. Bailey spent her time cradled in support from her mate and mind whirling over the most important, most damning evidence. If this mutiny did not succeed, she could not imagine the punishment being concocted for this transgression.

Finally, Bailey was called up to give testimony. She clutched a folder in hand with trembling hands as a high keening rang in her ears. She saw spots. No matter how fast she breathed, she could not get air. Kikilina was the thin tether that kept her on this planet. Bailey fought in place to control herself for her mate's sake-and stepped forward.

Given prompts, she spoke of her place in the family and her relation to her aunt. She spoke of her childhood-pets spirited away or eaten as punishment, isolation and the barest of necessities through intense mental training. She spoke of nights of terror when she was young and how she listened to the painful rebukes of her summoned pack mates, hoping she was not due next. She spoke of the room where she was frozen to reinforce obedience and unwavering commitment to the pack and Candice's goals.

Her emotions from the years were packed so intensely down, that she managed these things with what she felt was adequate control-until she was asked in depth about her pack mate's punishments. Yelps and cries filled her ears as her words faltered-then strengthened. Close or not, her family deserved to have their wounds laid bare. When it came time to speak of her former protector, however, it was there that she broke. The grip that Candice had maintained over their lives was monstrous and Bailey's guilt over her inability to help was not soothed by the knowledge that she'd been under a dozen, dozen pack laws and personal rules. She could have done...something.

"I'm-so sorry," she managed between the harsh shakes that rippled through her small frame. Regret and danger flared within her so intensely that for a moment, her face began to elongate as her suit bulged. Bailey's testimony was called to an end in her struggle to stay in this form.

The panting wolf was led from the stand as pain and sorrow and guilt burst in a waterfall. The emotions flooded her imprinted. The guilt of a young child aged and compiled and refined in the way of silent, pent up survivors guilt. She could have done more. Should have done anything. All of this battered the human recklessly as Bailey passed close. She pulled Kikilina abruptly into a tight embrace and held her souls pair until her body calmed enough to get back into the car.

**********

The evening held naught but comfort in Kikilina's childhood home. Bailey was curled up in a ball with her head on Kikilina's lap. Her insides felt as hollow and leaden at once. Yet still, warm tears seeped into the cloth covering Kikilina's thigh. She'd been given a blanket and made to eat a few bites of the cooks delicious food. Despite the food's tastiness, Bailey could not muster to enjoy it just now. She was asked to try to eat more, but the wolf held no appetite. She thought to sleep away tiredness, but she was not sleepy either. Just very, very drained.

A knock at the door turned no ear before Lilith stepped in. It looked as though the succubus had been crying as well. Quite a bit, by the looks of the bags beneath her eyes. Her testimony had been long with the list of events and accounts she was privy to, and the bound woman had been instrumental in inflicting pain on others in multiple cases, including the little blond.

"Hey, Baby Girl," she said sadly. The succubus sat on the bed, picked up the little wolf with a grunt and pulled her into her lap. Bailey's tired tears and whimpers began anew, and Lilith rubbed her back soothingly. "Sounds like we got enough to put her away for a thousand, thousand years," the succubus croaked. Bailey shook her head. Surely an exaggeration. Lilith nodded gently. "You didn't hear all of it. You didn't need to." The succubus looked at the human. "How are you holding up?"

Kikilina was exhausted and emotionally wrung out. She sighed heavily but gave a small smile that was meant to reassure. Though there had been so much pain and stress, there was a large part of her that raged against the ex-alpha and celebrated voraciously at her final and absolute imprisonment. She was gone. Judgement was swift in Serenity, and the mountains of evidence damned Candice with enough to put her away for ages even before Bailey was given her time to speak. Stepping into the doorway of the Chigaru-Badru home, they were informed of the bare bones of Candice's punishment. Prison, for longer twice over than any wolf had ever lived.

"I'm just so glad that monster is going to be locked away forever." Kikilina's face contorted into utter and unhidden hatred. "If only the president believed in the death sentence." Her words were so filled with venom she had to begin comforting her mate anew with a gentle apology. "I'm sorry, Bailey. But this is good. You're finally free." She smiled reassuringly and rubbed her love's back. Kiki turned her puffy eyes to Lilith. "How are you holding up?"

Lilith's eyes fell even as her lips pressed together in what had started as a wry smile. "...it's been a day. But it had to be done so we could start moving forward." She then murmured beneath her breath, "Cursed as I am, if there's anything left of Candice when she leaves her prison, I'll be there to get my satisfaction."