Kaidan & Delilah: Part 2

Fallon was going to tell her to not speak but he sighed, too late toe top now. The court was listening now. Kaiden looked down in dismay hearing about it, thinking he should have been quicker.

"Korlak tried to Kill Delilah as well. He escaped me, but i chose to stay with Delilah, worried for her....and that's when i had to turn her." Kaiden added.

"........So this is your side of events?" asked the Judge.

"Yes sir." said Kaiden.

"I hear that your Uncle has a defence as well, but does he wish to speak it now?" he looked to Fallon. "Well?"

"..............I do. And I wish to call upon the ancient right of Commercia mortis generi valet suamque.' " Fallon called out a latin wording. Kaiden's eyes widen, "UNCLE NO!!!"

Delilah looked to Fallon who was sitting beside her when the judge addressed him. He had a defense he wished to plea as well. She sat down still looking at him rather confused. He stood and began his defense. He said a few words in Latin that she didn't quite understand. But it got quite the response from Kaiden. He was distraught. She looked between the two.

"Lord Fallon? What are you doing?" She asked feeling her heart race.

The court was in shock hearing this form Lord Fallon.

Striker, who was usually a stoic man was stunned, "Sir please reconsider!!" he begged.

"NO!" he told Striker. "I demand this be acted upon." he said to the Judge, "Vita est vita. Our laws are clear. If you want my clan to repay the life teen from you Lord Hex, then let it be MINE. NOT my Nephew." he said.

"UNCLE NO!!" Kaiden tried to go to him, But was restrained by the guards again.

Delilah gasped and covered her mouth, "Lord Fallon! No! Please...you can't." She grabbed his arm and looked at him with tears in her eyes. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his clan and for his nephew. "There must be another way. There has to be!" She yelled.

Fallon looked to her, "No, There is none." he said, "My Lords and Lord-Ladies.....I will take the punishment in place for Kaidan Bale...by Right of the Ancients Right of Umpyr." he said.

They high lords looked to each other and Lord Hex glared, not even his rage could go against the Rights.

"Kaiden Bale was to be sentenced to death by Holy Blade and Sun." said the judge, "You wish to continue forth?" he asked Fallon. "I do your honour." he replied.

The judge nodded, "Very well.......Lord Fallon. You are requesting a switch, and by the Rights, it will be accepted. You will take Bale's place at the stakes."

"NOOOO!! DON'T!!!" Kaidan pleaded.

"SILENCE! THE SENTENCE HAS BEN SET AND CAST! Kaiden Bale you and your allies will NOT intervene and You are free." said the Judge.

The soliders uncuffed Kaidan and he rant o his Uncle, "Please don't! You've got to lead the clan!" Kaidan said quietly, "Kaidan.......I promised your mother I would keep you safe....and I would be breaking it to her if I let you die........" he removed his pendant and signet ring and handed them to his Nephew.

"You are to lead the Clan now......live well..." he said with a smile as he willingly went with the guards out of the court room.

Striker was in much shock as Kaidan and Lilah, "....My Lord........"

----

They were allow to exit the court room, "NO! I can't let this!!!" said Kaidan.

"The Rights were spoken Kaidan.....we can't fight against them." Striker said, grief in his tone.

Lilah was in complete shock once the judge explained Lord Fallon's request. He would take Kaiden's place and face the punishment of death. She sat down in her seat completely void of words. 'No...this all my fault!' She scolded herself mentally. If she hadn't been so careless about leaving the hideout alone none of this would have even happened. She was thrilles that Kaiden was safe, but her heart wrenched at the cost.

Tears fell faster from her eyes when Kaiden was finally freed and he came running. Fallon entrusted guardianship of the clan to his nephew. Lilah watched as he went peacfully out of the room. "No...this can't be..."

Once the court was dismissed, Lilah walked out with Striker and Kaiden. She hugged herself shaking trying to keep it together. "This is all my fault. Now Lord Fallon has to die because of my stupidity and carelessness. Kaiden...I'm so sorry..."

Kaiden turned to Delilah and sighed, hugging her tightly, "..........No...its not your fault Lilah........My uncle was never the type to allow anyone in his clan or close to him get harmed.....but I'm just as shocked that he would go to this length......" he said.

"That makes three of us." said Striker. "........The Execution will be at tomorrow dawn....the rights allow the one being Executed time to Purify and have his or her goodbyes.......If the council sentence is correct...Holy Blade and Sun.....his lordship is going to die quickly, then his body displayed out where the sun will be Shining ALL the day......burning into nothing but ash...." he said.

Kaidan hugged Lilah tighter hearing all of this.

"Kaiden....." a voice interrupted them.

They turned to see Kaiden's father, High Lord Bale. Kaiden's eyes eyes filled with rage, "WHY DIDN'T YOUS STEP IN!!??" he shouted at him.

"KAIDAN!" he growled, "HE called the Rights, NO vampire no matter his status can go against the Rights. Believe me! I wanted to intervene!" he frowned, "SO do NOT shout at me, when i've come here peacefully!"

Kaiden glared, "I don't want you around me PERIOD! You've been NOTHING to me but a GHOST! A memory! EVER since I was born you NEVER cared about me, YOU NEVER cared about mother!!! But since NOW I'm in a time I'm at my worst YOU come in like an opportunistic vulture!!!" Kaidan let it all out.

His father stood silent as his son shouted, "Even when my mother DIED you didn't bother to come to her cremation!!! THAT'S WHEN I TOTALLY BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T CARE FOR ANYTHING!!!"

Lilah clung to Kaiden and quietly cried in his chest. Even though he assured her that it wasn't her fault, she still blamed herself. "It's not fair that he has to die..." Hearing Striker's explanation made her shudder. No one deserved such a harsh punishment. Lilah buried her head again in his chest as he hugged her tighter, but she lifted her head when she heard a slightly familiar voice.

Kaiden got very tense as he shouted at him. "Kaiden, calm down!" She pressed her hands into his chest to try to keep him from confronting him. They continued to exchange words and Lilah tried her best to stay between them. Kaiden really gave him a tongue lashing. He had nothing but horrible things to say to his father.

"Calm down, Kaiden. He isn't worth it." Lilah put both her hands on his chest and tried to push him back a bit. She looked at his father with angry puffy eyes. "I think it is best that you leave him alone. Kaiden has been through enough for one day."

His father sighed, "I came here to not argue with either of you. I'm here to support Kaiden. Your uncle gave you his pendant and Ring? That means you are now to be the Lord of the Turis Clan Kaidan.....and I'm afraid that you WON'T Be able to get out of it like you have before......." he knew Kaidan would try to find a way round it, which was why he came to tell him.

"..............." Kaidan remained silent.

"I know this is not fair and that you made this mistake.......But you Know Fallon would NOT do this unless he knew it was the RIGHT thing to do." he said to his son.

"My condolences to You kaidan and I'll leave you be." he nodded and left the three alone.

Striker bowed in respect as he walked off. "....Well........what do we do? I highly doubt you wish to see the exception?" he asked them both.

".........No.....I'm seeing this till the end." said Kaidan, clutching the pendant and ring.

Lilah finally relaxed her grip when he said his peace and finally left. She looked at Kaiden and wondered what he was thinking. He made his resolve to see this through to the end. Maybe that meant he would also take on the role of lord of the Turis clan.

"I will too. And I will be by your side, Kaiden." Lilah sniffled a little bit but smiled at her beloved.

Kaidan hugged her, "I love you........And....I'm so happy I can still say that to you." he said, he was shaking, trying to not cry in public.

Striker sighed, feeling saddened for his clan and for Kaidan at this time. "We will need to return to the Clan to inform of the news....and we will return tomorrow...." he said.

Kaidan sighed and nodded, "Agreed.....let's go on then."

Lilah held him close feeling his body shaking. She stroked his back gently to try to soothe him, "I know...I love you too." She whispered back to him before letting him go and holding his hand. "Yeah...let's go home." She hated being at the palace. It was full of bad memories for the both of them.

They left Sanguin Palace and they arrived back to the clan. Striker went on to notify the clan to gather in the great hall at once.

Kaidan sighed, he would have to be the one to give the news to his clan brothers and sisters about what just transpired in the COunil chambers..and that he's now the Lord of the clan. He was SOOOO AFRAID at this time.

Lilah could tell that something was off with Kaiden. He wasn't his usual self. She squeezed his hand and looked at him. "Hey, are you okay? The color has drained from your face. Are you nervous?" She turned to face him and touched his cheek.

".......One of the reasons I didn't want to be a lord was the responsibility of telling something of his high measure to the clan." he said, ".....THey will not accept me as leader....I'm not my uncle."

"No, you're not your uncle. You are you and no one expects any less." She took the ring and the pendant from his hand. "Your uncle entrusted you with the leadership of the clan. It was his last wish. He has faith in you and so do I." She put the pendant on over his head and held his hand in hers to put the ring on his finger. "You will be fine. I will be right there with you." She said with a smile.

He sighed, ".....After all this I'll be asking you something important......but for now....let's get this out to the clan." he said, as they walk on to the great hall where everyone was gathering to hear the news, everyone was nervous or worried.

Kaidan, Striker and Lilah got up to the speaking stand and Kaidan sighed, "........Brothers and sisters of the Turis clan! I'm afraid that things have taken a drastic....and sad turn.... My Uncle, Lord Fallon Turis.....has spoke the Rights of Life for a Life........he has taken my place at the exception grounds......" eh said, "....He had left me....Kaidan Amadeus Bale.....to be your new Lord and leader.....I hope to the gods that you all accept me........and that our lord leaves this world in no pain...........I hope you will alsmot forgive me for letting this come to mad situation...but I will rectify that...when we start a new...." he said.

Delilah nodded and took his hand. "You will do fine. Striker and I are with you, so you're not alone." Once they entered the great hall, Lilah let go of his hand and let him take his place at the podium to address the clan, she and Striker on either side of him. She looked out at the crowd of vampires and saw just how distraught they were. All of them were worried about their leader. As Kaiden explained the situation, many covered their mouths in shock. Others became visibly sad and upset.

When Kaiden finished addressing the crowd a calm came over them. They began to clap and cheer for their new leader. Showing their support and their respect.

Kaidan was stunned by this, but gave a small smile.

After the addressing, Kaidan came down off the stage, with a look of determination on his face. Striker noticed and patted his shoulder, "What's on your mind?"

".......Once I am coronated to my place fully in this clan, My FIRST act will be to increase the search on Horlak." he said, "He's not going to get away with the wrongs HE'S committed." he said.

"As you wish.....My Lord." he bowed to him.

Kaidan was never going to get used to that. He turned to Delilah, "Come with me..." he got her hand and took her to his room to get some privacy.

Delilah smiled as she watched Kaiden walk off the stage toward her and Striker who had left his side just a few minutes before he finished addressing the clan. She was so happy he did well and that the clan accepted him as their new leader. "You did so well."

She giggled when Striker called him by his new title. The look on Kaiden's face was priceless. He then turned his attention to her. "Of course, my lord." She said to sort of tease him. "I know you said you had something important to talk to me about. Is something wrong?" She asked once they got settled in the privacy of his room. She was so happy to see Scout after such a rough day. She whistled to him to come down so she could greet him.

Scout flew down and onto her shoulder, bald to see her back.

"Please don't call me that." he said about the lord title, "It makes me shudder."

"...........I......want to know if you are still willing to follow me down this road as a vampire lord?" he asked her.

Lilah smiled and pet Scout's head. "Hey Scout, I missed you." She nuzzled his head with her cheek and looked at Kaiden. She could tell he was very serious about what he needed to talk to her about. She looked into his eyes and smiled at him.

"Kaiden, we have been through so much together already. I meant it when I said that we are in this together. I will remain by your side no matter what. I owe you my life and my love. Trust me, I am not going anywhere and I want to be with you on this journey." She touched his cheek and leaned in to kiss him.

He kissed her back, "Very well then." he then knelt before her, "Then will you be my wife?" he asked her.

Lilah watched as he knelt down in front of her. "What are you doing?" Then his next sentence hit her like a ton of bricks. Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open slightly. She was completely caught off guard.

"Wh-what did you say?" Surely she heard wrong?! There was no way this was happening right now!!

He chuckled at her reaction, "Will you be my wife?" he asked her, still on his knee, "My uncle has given me a second chance......I'm not wasting it." he said.