Amys escape, p.1
Amy's Escape, page 1
Amy's Escape
Gemstone Massacre series prequel, Volume 0
Julia Goldhirsh
Published by Julia Goldhirsh, 2023.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
AMY'S ESCAPE
First edition. March 31, 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Julia Goldhirsh.
ISBN: 979-8215718261
Written by Julia Goldhirsh.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Author’s Notes
Opal’s Villain Origin Story
LGBTQIA+ Arthurian Fantasy
Rapunzel Retelling with Evil Nymphs
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Chapter 1
Amy wrung her hands together as she approached the members of the magic council, who sat high up on their wooden benches, glowering down at her- all of them handpicked by Opal.
Amy bit back a retort about this trial being unfair when Opal said,“Per our laws, you’ve been provided representation from your, our, magic line.” She gestured to the enchanter behind Amy, who gulped when she looked at him. Amy didn’t recognize the mage and judging by the way he kept rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants and the fact that he was one of the lowest ranking members of their society, she didn’t think he’d be much help either.
She glanced up at the ceiling as Opal continued. “...start your trial for the murder of a sorcerer commander during peace negotiations.” That’s rich considering she should be the one on trial for sending children into a war... oh, and for killing the Magic Council and making it into a dictatorship.
Instead of voicing her opinions, she settled for side-eyeing the Magic Council members as she approached the bench with her shaking, sweating legal representation. “Amethyst.”
Amy cleared her throat. “It’s Amy.”
Opal scowled at her. “Amethyst. You’ve been charged with the murder of a high-ranking officer in the middle of peace negotiations while his army looked on. This resulted in the death of the leader of the sorcerers and in the maiming of your own leader, me. How do you plead?”
The lawyer placed a hand on her shoulder. He leaned down to her ear and whispered. “If you cooperate, they should take it easier on you. It’s best to plead guilty unless you have evidence or a witness that will corroborate your side of the story.”
Amy bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I won’t do that.” She looked at Opal. “I plead not guilty. Even though I’d gone through my Choosing, I was an unprecedented case. You treated me as an adult because it was to your benefit and now you don’t like the consequences. Magic rite or not, I should have been treated as a minor on the battlefield and now, in this courtroom. You should be charged for reckless endangerment of a minor and pay my mother damages.”
Opal’s face flushed, and she slammed her fist down on the desk. “Enough. You’re out of line. Pieter, please reign in your client.”
He gave her a slight bow and muttered, “Sorry, Madam Council Leader.”
Pieter gave her a wilting look. “Amy. You’re not going to make your case easy on yourself if you throw accusations at the judge.”
Amy huffed. “I’m not going to bow to her for this mockery of a trial. All I get is you for a lawyer? You’re certainly not impartial. There’s no jury of ‘my peers’ so why are we pretending like I won’t be convicted, regardless of what I say?”
Pieter’s jaw popped. “May I have a moment with my client, Madam Councilwoman?”
Opal inclined her head. “You may have five minutes, but if she runs, it will be on your head.”
Pieter gulped and grabbed Amy by the arm.
She tried to yank her way out of it, but he squeezed her wrist and she yelped. “What gives? You trying to break my wrist?”
He hissed. “Come. Now.”
Amy huffed but slunk along behind him as he led them out of the courtroom and into a hallway. Once the doors shut behind them, he turned to face her, bending at the knees and latching onto her shoulders, his nails like talons on her skin. Their gazes met.
“If you insist on making this trial’s outcome worse than it needs to be, I won’t stop you, but perhaps consider that if you’re found guilty, it will be a lifetime behind bars if you don’t get put to death. You may want to see things my way and play the part of the apologetic innocent.”
Amy bit her lip. “How am I supposed to do that when she’s the one in the wrong? I’m not sorry and I don’t understand how I should pretend to be.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “You don’t have to actually be sorry. The goal is to curry favor with the other Council members so you can get a lighter sentence, kid. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at staying in a magic containment cell until you die or gouge out your own eyes trying to relieve the pressure of magic building up within you with no release.”
Amy shuddered. “How do I know she won’t do that to me anyway?”
Pieter gave her a solemn look. “You don’t. Trust me. I’ll do what I can to help minimize your sentence, but you need to stick to the plan, understand? Don’t fight back or say anything to further incriminate yourself. Remember, you killed the person, but it was an accidental death. A casualty of war. You thought he was going to attack Opal.”
Amy shook her head. “That’s what happened, but that shouldn’t be a jailable offense. She’s upset because someone she cared about died after the peace negotiations fell through. As much as she wants to blame me for that, he was already going to attack. I saved her life! Why is no one willing to listen?” Amy’s voice cracked on the word ‘listen.’ Tears blurred her vision. She stared down at the floor, rocking slightly as she spoke.“This isn’t fair. It’s not fair. I don’t understand why this is happening.”
Pieter placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Hey. Come back to me. We’ll get through this together.”
Amy gulped. “I don’t believe that, but I’ll try it your way.”
She dragged her feet back into the courtroom, keeping her gaze on the floor. When she approached the bench and sat down, Opal snickered.“Are you ready to conduct a proper trial?”
Amy grabbed onto the table with her knuckles. She was careful to look through Opal when she raised her gaze. “Yes, Counselor Opal.”
“Good,” Opal hissed before shifting her gaze to Pieter. “Then let’s continue. During peace negotiations, you attacked a member of said negotiations. This resulted in an escalation of conflicts and the subsequent death of the sorceress leader and in my injuries. How do you plead?”
He was attacking anyway. All I did was keep you from dying, you ungrateful... Amy shook her head. No, you have to play the part.
Pieter held up a hand to keep her from speaking. “Before we make a final ruling, we should present all the evidence for the Council, shouldn’t we?”
Opal raised an eyebrow. “What evidence do you propose will change their mind?”
Pieter flipped through a stack of files. “During a similar trial during Merlin’s era, Merlin, or rather Malachite herself, had a similar accusation placed upon her. She was a young mage who got her familiar early on and because of her magic, an accidental death occurred, did it not?”
Opal nodded. “Yes, but that was a case from centuries ago.”
Pieter flipped through his documents. Landing on one, he approached Opal and laid it before her. “Perhaps, but this case ruled to charge her as a minor regardless of her having had a Choosing. The Council decided that because she’d been in her rights to practice magic as a student and that the death she caused was accidental, she shouldn’t be charged as an adult.”
She balled up the paper. “But that wasn’t a crime in war, that was an accidental death in the classroom and the school took some of the liability in that case.”
He continued shuffling through his files and Amy glimpsed the sweat stains on the page he’d pulled. “Alright then, how about the case of Coral? She’s currently an elder, but are you familiar with her history?”
Opal bit her lower lip. “I know she used to be the leader before my family took over. What more do I need to know?”
He placed a paper in front of her. “Take a look. Your own family tried to jail her for defending herself when she was challenged for her seat as the head of the enchantment mage clan. The case presented today seems rather personal, as was this case which got dismissed because of the judge’s bias. Would that not be an argument to use a different judge for Amy’s case, or at the least provide a jury?”
Opal clacked her nails on the table, making Amy wrinkle her nose. “Are you challenging my capabilities as a leader, Pieter?”
Pieter shook his head. His expression never changed, but his hand shook as he placed it on the desk. “I’m merely insisting, given your...position in this situation, that you’d be biased, even unintentionally, and request that another individual be the one acting as the judge for this case, Madam Council Leader.”
Opal gave a humorless smirk. “Don’t ever call me that again. Fine. I shall bring her a new judge and we’ll reconvene in 24 hours. She’ll be heavily guarded in the meantime and if she runs it will automatically be considered treason. She will receive the highest penalty available for an adult, and you will face that penalty alongside her. Understood?”
& nbsp; Pieter gulped “Yes, M—Opal.”
Opal spat. “Good. Now leave the courthouse. I have to find a suitable judge for Amethyst the killer.”
Amy wrinkled her nose, but instead of arguing she settled for glaring at Opal’s retreating back. Once the others were gone, Pieter grabbed her elbow and glanced down at her. “I need you to understand both our lives are on the line right now, Amy. I’m putting my trust in you. Don’t run, don’t hide. If you run, I won’t be alive to protect you anymore, understand?”
Amy gulped. “Mhm,” was all she could manage. It felt like rocks were pressing down on her tongue and scraping away her speech.
She followed along behind him, the hot summer air searing her skin and heating her cheeks as she approached home. When the door opened, tears streamed down her mother’s face. She held open her arms and Amy ran into them. Her mother, Sardonyx, stroked her hair and mumbled, “Everything will be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
But when the door creaked closed behind her, Amy’s heart dropped into her stomach. I don’t know if I can do this, she thought as the sun set and day gave way to night.
Chapter 2
Amy laid awake, staring up at the ceiling. She glanced over at Garnet on the bed across from her. Garnet’s mouth gaped open, drenching her pillow with drool.
Amy stifled a snicker. Even asleep she’s a mess. Amy hugged her knees to her chest, trying to remember what Pieter told her, but her mind kept wandering. What if Pieter’s plan doesn’t work? What if she still sentences me to death or has my magic stripped or blocked?
Amy scratched at her scalp. “No, no. I can’t do this. I can’t sleep like this. I need air.” She opened the window a crack, letting the breeze come through. Silver hair glinted in the distance. Opal. What is she doing out now?
Amy squinted, trying to determine who Opal was talking to, but the figure was covered in a dark cloak, obscuring their features. No. I shouldn’t, but...
Her curiosity pulled her from the window. She tiptoed past her mother’s bedroom and into the sitting room, where she pulled on her shoes and slipped into a cloak before slipping out the front door and sneaking off in the direction where she’d seen Opal.
Amy darted from building to building, focusing on the silver hair in the distance until she got close enough to make out their conversation.
“I take it this will be enough for your cooperation?” Opal said and handed the cloaked figure an object that gleamed in the moonlight- a chalice embedded with a moldavite crystal.
Amy gritted her teeth together. She’s so desperate to have my head that she’s selling forbidden magic to whoever that traitor is. Amy’s cheeks heated. Unbelievable. Who does she think she is?
She leaned to the side slightly, craning her neck, hoping to glimpse the person. Her mouth gaped. The dark beard and that midnight blue aura... It was the representative from the sorcerer clan and her last hope of having any representatives on her side. Amy gulped. There’s no way I can have a chance at a fair trial if she’s bribing the only representatives that might have helped me. I have to get out of here tonight. I need to tell Mom. I’m sorry, Pieter.
Tears stung Amy’s eyes, and she wiped them away before sneaking back to her house and shutting the door behind her. Amy slid to the floor, her back against the door. Her silent tears turned first to hiccupping cries and then to full on wailing sobs that pierced the silence.
When footsteps thudded into the living room and a hand reached her shoulder, she looked up and Sardonyx’s silver-streaked black hair swirled around her. “Amy. Here. Take one of these, dear.” She pressed a smooth sardonyx stone into Amy’s palm and Amy ran a finger along it. As she did, a warmth spread through her body, making her limbs feel lighter and her mind clearer.
“Take as much time as you need, honey. When you’re ready, you can tell me what happened, and I’ll do my best to help you.”
Amy nodded and wiped away tears with the back of her hand. Her eyes still felt puffy, but her heart was warmer, the comfort of her mother’s magic filling her thoughts with happy memories of Chal and Garnet.
Amy took a deep, calming breath. “I overheard Opal bribing another Council member.”
Her mother placed a finger to her lips. “Be careful what you say here. We can never be sure who’s listening in. Are you certain?”
Amy nodded.
“Alright. What do you want to do about it?”
Amy pulled her knees to her chest. “I don’t know. Hide? Run?”
Sardonyx nodded. “Regardless of what you decide, I’ll help you. Did anyone follow you?”
Amy shook her head. “Mom, I don’t want to leave you behind, but I’m scared.”
Amy’s mother gave her hand a squeeze. “This is a scary situation. We’ll do our best to follow behind you when it’s safe. If you want to leave, pack your things now. I’ll grab some of the human money from the safe. Take a few of the polished rubies and garnets from my jewelry box, okay?”
A heart-wrenching sob escaped Amy’s throat. “Mom. I need a hug.” She held her arms open, and Sardonyx wrapped her in a tight hug but quickly let go of her when a light shone through the window.
“Hurry, Amy. I’ll take care of whoever’s out there. Get out of sight. Now.” She gave Amy’s hand a small squeeze. “I love you. Be careful.”
Opal’s silken voice made Amy’s heart lodge in her throat. “Someone said they’d spotted a girl with violet hair and golden eyes outside, so I’ll need to do a check. I’m sure you understand.”
Amy skittered out of the living room and into her bedroom. She grabbed gemstones and wrapped them in her clothes to cushion them before shoving them in her bag. I’m sorry, Mom. Please be safe.
She peered out the window. No guards. Maybe she’s acting out of suspicion or paranoia? Not that she’s wrong to be suspicious.
Amy slid her window open and crawled out, landing in the grass with a soft thud. On the way to Gemstone Forest, she kept out of the light. Her hand fiddled with her Amethyst bracelet, ready to put any onlookers into a sleepy, drunken stupor.
A scream pierced the night. Amy glanced back. Smoky white-gray magic misted the air above her home. Amy broke into a dead sprint, darting along the crunchy crystal grass and towards the violet pulsating portal.
She ignored the howls in the distance, trying not to think about a gem wolf or coyote ripping into her if it caught her.
As the magic of the portal warmed her face, footsteps thudded behind her. She dove into the portal and was spit out into a gray wasteland. The wind howled, and she made out the true end of the portal in the distance.
She craned her ear to the sky. No hounds- yet. I need to move before they find me. Amy turned her backpack around so she could hold it firmly with her hands, trying to make as little noise as possible as she crept towards the portal.
Wind whipped through the barren trees. Amy shuddered at the mage bones tangled within the branches. The ground wobbled beneath her, slowing her progress to the exit.
She waddled like a penguin, plodding forward. When her foot stepped through the portal’s exit and the sun beamed down onto her face, heating her cheeks, she sighed and gulped in a big breath.
GARNET ROLLED OVER, yawning out a, “Good morning, Amy.” But there was no answer. She glanced around the room. It was still dark but she could just make out a mess with clothes strewn everywhere. The drawer with her gem pouch was open. Empty. She fled the trial, but why?
An unfamiliar voice shouted. “If you’re hiding her, you should know well the punishment for treason.”
Garnet darted over to the door, throwing it open and rushing over to her mother. “Mom, Amy is gone. Who is this?”
Her mother pointed at the guard in front of them. “They didn’t do their job properly and are trying to blame me for Amy’s escape. But it appears she was quiet enough to not wake you either.” She turned her attention back to the guard. “See? I told you I didn’t help her. We didn’t even know she’d escaped until you showed up here making a fuss. Perhaps if you hadn’t slept on the job, sir.”
The guards face went red. “We’ll send someone back for questioning in a couple of hours. Until then, I recommend you don’t do anything else foolish.”
