My characters:
Katherine Oscuro (Light) Gabrielle
Cody Caldwell Sangria(Blood) Le Diable Xena
Violence: ermmm……yes, of course.
Sex: Ermmmmmm…..yes again.
Anything else: yes, again….just read the story already.
Part 5
Cody gave orders for Katharine to be moved to her own home that she kept for when in New Orleans. The girl was so distraught that she didn't protest at all when Cody slipped a hand under her knees and lifted her into Anna's carriage.
Katharine sighed softly. A sigh Cody mistook for sadness rather than the pang of lust Katharine felt swell through her body, starting a fierce longing to be held by the pirate.
When the carriage pulled up against the front steps of Trinity Hall, the blond that Cody had held all the way there, sat up and caught her lip between her front teeth, gazing at the magnificent house.
Anna reached across and patted her knee. "You're on your own now dear."
"You won't come in?" Katharine asked, suddenly afraid to be alone with Cody.
"No, Cherie, it wouldn't be right." Anna smiled and winked conspiratively at Cody.
The carriage pulled away, leaving the two women alone. Katharine waved slowly. Cody impulsively put her hand out, and not thinking, Katharine placed her own hand into it. Immediately she pulled back, like she'd been burnt.
The raven-tressed pirate ignored the rebuff and glanced far down the road. "We have visitors." She said, almost below her breath. She called for a manservant and told him to arrange someone to set up a room for Katharine, and the girl was to stay here for an undetermined time.
The riders were upon them and Cody flashed a smile.
"Cody Caldwell, you're under arrest for the murder of a Creole gentlemen."
"Tinieblas was no gentleman." Cody sneered.
"Nevertheless," the rider continued, "you're under arrest."
"One moment, sir." The pirate said. She leaned in and kissed Katharine, much to the girl's surprise. Her tongue trailed a wet path down Katharine' neck and she sucked hard, startling the redhead. Katharine gasped and wrapped her arms around her pirate's neck, responding to the hard caress.
As Cody pulled away, the younger woman blushed a deep crimson.
"Are you quite finished?" The police officer said, although he was enjoying the show. He'd seen many things over the years, but Cody never ceased to surprise him. Cody smirked and leaped onto the horse he held. She winked at Katharine, and suddenly the young woman was alone.
Katharine seated herself on the hard wooden bench and glanced around. She longed for a sight of Cody's long lithe body and her heart surged when the pirate arrived in the court room. The trial had gone on for two days, and each day, Katharine had tried to hide from Cody's view. Witness' of the so-called murder had been called, but Cody had refused to name Katharine, and as a result, nobody knew why the dark-haired woman had killed Tinieblas, other than an old grudge.
Cody was brought forward. Katharine gasped at the way her hair hung in matted knots around her face and she bit her lip, drawing blood, when she noticed a fresh bruise on her cheek. Obviously, the feared woman hadn't decided to try to escape, or some of these officers would be dead by now. The worst thing for Katharine was the fact that she may cause Cody's imprisonment or death.
The judge pounded his gavel and the court quietened down.
"Cody Caldwell," he began, "you have been charged with murder. The sentence for this is execution."
There was a buzz around the court room and Katharine felt tears stinging her eyes. Was this the end of a relationship that had never begun?
The judge pounded again. "I'm not finished. I was about to say, that since you have aided this community within the past few years, and ridden us of a known criminal, your sentence is to be reduced to thirty thousand dollars and twenty lashes. You do realise, don't you Cody, that we are only trying you for this crime, and not any to do with your profession?"
Cody nodded. "Then let the sentence be carried out now.
Cody was ushered from the room, no doubt to pay her debt, and the crowd surged toward the two open doors. Katharine was caught up within a sea of bodies and forced toward the open courtyard.
Suddenly she realised what was going to happen and her stomach heaved. They were going to do the lashing now! She almost vomited on the cobblestones, but forced herself to stay calm. Cody was led to a stake in the middle of a platform and her arms secured above her head. Katharine felt tears sting her eyes, Dear God! Cody was laughing with the officers! The judge came out and scowled. One of the officers called to him. "Sir, I ca'ant hit a woman." He said in thick brogue. The others nodded.
The judges eyes gleamed. "I'll do it!" A man from the crowd offered. Another yelled too. One jumped onto the platform and cracked the whip above his head. The tail of it bit through the air and into Cody's skin. Katharine sobbed openly as a wound appeared. The man counted down from twenty, got to fourteen and stopped. "I can't do no more. It's pitiful." He shouted. The crowd booed. One of the officers untied Cody and slipped his jacket off for her. The crowd cheered him and Cody for not giving in. Katharine's eyes sought Cody's and felt the pain as if it were her own.