highfantasy                       ... Contest 2: The Devil's Trial ...  Your favourite High Fantasy villain has been put on trial for his/her atrocities. How will s/he defend her/himself? (1000 to 1500 words)

*Based on a villain of my own creation.

The twins - Apathy and Cynicism - were ordered before the Courts of Nebe again. Apathy flicked her long grey hair from her pale face as she was ushered into the courtroom. The place was packed but she couldn't summon the energy to even roll her eyes at the crowd of gloating onlookers. It was all a waste of time as far as she was concerned. Cynicism, on the other hand, gripped the hilt of his sword with calculated anticipation and sneered openly at the great assembly. He singled out Justice, Truth and Right in particular. By the Stars of Nebe he hated them to the same degree that Apathy could care less about them.

The court was in an uproar the moment the Senku, who flanked Apathy and Cynicism, glided in. It was hard to tell whom the spectators hated more - the twins or the smokey apparitions. Cynicism was betting on the filthy, rotten Senku. They were Justice's bounty-hunters but they were foul, stinking creatures that hailed from the very bowels of Morker. Not a god, spirit or monster in the Neviden realm could stand to be in the presence of these tall, dark, smoldering shadows of ash and caustic smoke.

The courtroom quickly filled with the stench of burning stibine while the crystal floors underfoot were instantly stained with a slick, wet trail of malodorous reddish bromine. The stench and the slime were gifts the Senku always left behind. How Justice could allow such abhorrent creatures to enter Nebe, let alone the Court, was unfathomable to both Cynicism and those gathered. However, Apathy was entirely unconcerned about the offensive Senku.  She only cared not to step in the greasy mess lest she should fall. It would be hell getting the liquid bromine washed from the silky strands of her glistening grey hair.

The Enumerator, who read aloud the charges against everyone,  stood with a loud and obnoxious sigh and unrolled a great scroll filled with charges against the twins. It was too long for him to spread from end to end by the span of his arms. With a flare for the dramatic, he let one end of the scroll hit the crystal floor and clatter noisily until  it came to a stop on its own. He then cleared his throat sonorously before launching into a well practiced speech.

"The great and auspicious Court of Nebe hereby charges Apathy and Cynicism with disrupting the peace, instigating anarchy and failing to prevent the widespread and catastrophic ..." he droned on and on and on.

Apathy let out a little snort and gave her brother a knowing look, which he returned with the roll of his eyes. Neither could be bothered to take the Court's charges seriously given the ridiculous nature of the its claims. Instead, Apathy concentrated on looking for a chair. They would likely be in court all afternoon and she could not abide standing on her feet that long.

She dispassionately waved the Senku aside with a light flick of her hand and laid hold of the first chair she saw, which she dragged back over to her twin's side. He would have to get his own chair she thought with a sigh as she sank down into the one she'd procured. Cynicism smiled affectionately when he heard the sigh escape her lips. By all the gods she was the most disaffected person he knew but he loved her all the same.

The Enumerator, having realized the twins were not paying any attention to him, stopped short, cleared his throat and positively seethed at the pair.

"Go on, go on, fair sir," Cynicism called out across the spacious courtroom with a mock bow. "Don't let us stop you from this farce called justice."

Cynicism watched with great amusement as the Enumerator gritted his teeth and spat out, "Today this Court charges you with instigating the systematic genocide of the ancient and ever faithful Kurn peoples by the detestable and heretical Yorbou nation. Three million men, women and children, even babes in the womb," he divulged with great hatred, "all destroyed in 6 horrifying days because of you both.

"Their deaths have led to the destruction of the Temple Religion and brought an end to more than five millennia of Neviden worship. The foundations of the realm have been shaken. The spiritual temples are crumbling even now as we gather in this courtroom. Doom is upon us all. The occupants of Morker have already risen up and rattled our walls in the hopes they will collapse, leaving all of Nebe open to them.

"Apathy and Cynicism, we charge you both with the deaths of millions of worthy and innocent mortals, as well as, with the destruction of our very way of life here in Nebe!"

The people in the court cried out in anger and in despair. They shouted for Apathy and Cynicism to forfeit their immortal lives and return to Divinity, the mother of all creation. No two Nevidians could be more reviled than the twins in that moment. In one voice, like the sound of a rushing waterfall, those present chanted over and over for swift justice.

Cynicism scoffed aloud. "What?" he asked with disdain, "No one left to worship you and you are falling apart at the seams. Is that it?" He looked around at the incensed crowd and rolled his eyes as if he were dealing with spoiled adolescents. "I will remind you that our mother, Divinity, scattered us all like seeds upon the realm of mortal man and beast.  What have Apathy and I done that you could not undo? We are just two seeds among so many more.

"Pray, tell me, where was Love when the Yorbou began to murmur and complain? Where was Kindness when they raised their voices against your worshipers? Where was self-restraint? Reason? Or Wisdom? Why not blame them?" he growled out as he scanned the great assembly and caught sight of the very ones he mentioned.

For a moment he just glared at them all until they turned pale under his penetrating gaze. And then finally, with a sardonic smirk on his face, he proclaimed to the Court of Nebe, "Why, Apathy and I can hardly be blamed for the blatant omissions of so many others in this court. I dare say, if you proceed any further, you will have to string up a dozen others right along with us."

Cynicism turned his mocking pitch-black eyes on Justice, Truth and Right, who presided over the court like a judge, jury and executioner. He wanted to laugh with spite and distaste when he saw in Truth's crystal-blue eyes that she was aware of how right he was.

Apathy, who had been slouching in her chair, one leg crossed casually over the other and filing her nails with a depth of disinterest only she herself could muster, suddenly spoke. "I wonder how the realm of Neviden will survive without its pillars?"

The squabbling court fell silent.

With a great sigh of discontent, Apathy arose from her seat, straightened out her body armour,  flicked back her hair from her face and turned her attention to Justice, who sat upon a throne in the middle of it all.

In a voice that was neither passionate nor irate Apathy asked, "And where were you, Justice? What were you doing when the Kurn called out to you? Where were you when they begged for mercy? Where were you when they were cut down brutally with your name as a prayer on their lips?

"Honestly, when was the last time you even roamed the realms of the mortals, Justice? You can hardly expect myself or Cynicism to take the blame for the massacre of the Kurn's and the subsequent downfall of Nebe because you were off playing hookie when it all transpired. Mother is going to have a field day with you, child." Apathy sighed. She wondered how long it would take for Justice to grow up. The mortal and immortal realms were doomed with her at the helm.

Tired, Apathy linked her arm with her twin's and looked up into his dark face. If she could smile, she would smile at him. As it was, she simply didn't have the energy for it and, instead, said to him, "I'm tired of this. Let us go, brother."

Cynicism gave her a nod and the two left, without a Senku escort, as the Court of Nebe erupted into shrill shouts and screams. Justice was going to get eaten alive by the others and Cynicism laughed openly with morbid delight.

(1435)